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Volume 17 Number 24
www.ocgnews.com March 15, 2012
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Miller Grove makes it four state titles W
By Joshua Smith
ith nearly a ring for each finger on his powerful, ball-palming hand, Miller Grove High School senior Tony Parker says he’s really enjoying the moment of being a Class AAAA State Champion—four years in a row. “I’ve been a starter here since my freshman year and while four-straight titles as a starter is a big deal, overall I wanted to make sure our senior class graduated with a ring. It meant a lot to us to see that happen and when it did, it was huge,” says Parker, who scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds in the March 9 victory over Southwest DeKalb. “We’ve built a brand here at Miller Grove based on hard-nose defense and we all work from that. Defense is what wins championships.” Parker, who stands at 6’9” and weighs 270 pounds, joins six other seniors on the championship squad. The McDonald’s All-American and Michael Jordan Brand Classic AllAmerican says he has offers from several colleges and universities including Duke, Memphis, Ohio State, Georgetown, Kentucky, UCLA,
UConn and Kansas. “I haven’t made my decision yet. Those are all great schools with wonderful programs and nationally-respected coaches,” said Parker. “Coach does a great job of not just building great players but great men and this will be my first major decision as a young -man. My family and I are really looking forward to the next level.” When the horn sounded in the Gwinnett Arena on March 9 and the score read 63-57, the victory was not only monumental for the school, but monumental for the state as well. Only Albany’s Westover High School has won four straight championships, the Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News last in 1993, in any class. Miller Grove’s Coach Sharman White (right) poses with his victorious squad. The team has won four straight State “I call it the ultimate Championships, a first in DeKalb County. buy-in. These guys wear games featured on ESPN three times do the guys because they know the that purple with so much pride. To and CBS one time. I’m just honored person across from them is doing that win four titles in a row is just to coach a group of such talented and maybe more to beat them,” said the result of their hard work and guys.” White, who will coach Tony Parker dedication,” said Miller Grove’s Coach White says the school will and other talented young men at the Coach Sharman White, who led soon be gearing up for another season 2012 Jordan Brand Classic on April the boys to a 24-9 record this of hard work. 14 in Charlotte, North Carolina. season. Eight of the nine losses “They get about 20 – 30 days off were against teams from across and after that, we’re working, all year See Champs, page 5 the nation. “We’ve had our round. I don’t mind it and neither
Local Democrats prepare to represent President Obama at Charlotte Convention CONYERS—Rockdale and DeKalb Democrats will gather in Conyers on March 17 to learn about becoming a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The onehour workshop will begin at 10 a.m. at the Ramada Inn on Dogwood Drive. “We’re proud to be hosting a delegate workshop right here in Conyers,” said Tisa Washington, chair of the Rockdale Democrats. The training is not required to become a delegate, but helps to prepare candidates for delegate elections held next month. The convention will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina this September. On April 21, the 4th Congressional District will elect four male and three female delegates to represent President Obama in Charlotte. The delegate election will take place at the Omega World Center on Snapfinger Parkway in Decatur. Sandra Austin, chair of the DeKalb Democrats, expects a good turnout for the election. “Charlotte is only 4 hours away and Georgia Democrats are excited to represent President Obama at the convention,” Austin said. The last day to apply to become a delegate is March 22. To register for the workshop, contact RJ Hadley at 404-274-9281. For delegate election details, go to www. georgiademocrat.org/delegate-informationstation.
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New box office set to open in City of Lithonia this spring By Valerie J. Morgan
LITHONIA—After nearly a threeyear hiatus, Jason Lary is gearing up to put on the city of Lithonia’s concert series this summer at the Lithonia Amphitheater. Lary said he and family members have purchased a building at 6844 Main Street in downtown Lithonia that will become the new box office. As renovations of the building get under way, a sign announcing the return of the concert series is already creating a buzz, he said. “My phone has been ringing off the hook. People are really excited about the concerts coming back,” said Lary. “They’re asking when the concerts will start, what jobs will be available, how they can help.” Lary said the box office building, originally built in 1900, will become fully operational once all the renovations are completed. Lary said he hopes to complete those renovations and open sometime in May “We’re raising money for the renovations now. We need people to make an investment into this for the concert series to be a success,” Lary said. “The box office was the missing link to our future success. We needed a place to sell the tickets. Now, we have one.” Lary has a multi-year agreement with the City of Lithonia to manage the amphitheater and conduct shows.
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
L-R: James Lary and his dad, Jason Lary, stand outside the building that will open as the new box office for the Lithonia concert series.
He said the amphitheater is in the process of undergoing electrical and safety upgrades, thanks to the efforts of former Lithonia Mayor Tonya Peterson Anderson, who helped to get $107,000 for the work and project management through a Community Development Block Grant from DeKalb County. “All of the pieces are finally starting to come together,” said Lary. Lary said he is grooming his son, James Lary, a freshman at Arabia Mountain High School in East DeKalb, to help run the ticket
office—a job the younger Lary said he is excited about. “I will get a chance to see how the business really works,” said James Lary, who hawked $1 bug spray squirts to concert goers when he was the young “Skeeto Man” during the early concert years. His slogan was “You pay. I spray.” Jason Lary said he plans to provide sponsorships to those who make contributions to renovate the box office. Lary’s email address is jasonlary@bellsouth.net.