Community
Think Pink
Community
Expansion project to relieve congestion on Rockdale’s Highway 138
St. Paul AME celebrates Pink and Blue Ribbon Sunday
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SERVING DEKALB, FULTON, GWINNETT, HENRY AND ROCKDALE COUNTIES
VOLUME
20 NUMBER 30
Michelle Nunn welcomes Jill Biden to Hands on Atlanta Day
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OCTOBER 25, 2014
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Supporters urge D.A. not to retry case Mistrial leaves Ellis in limbo
By Joshua Smith
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uspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis remains in limbo and it is unclear if he will ever return to finish his second, four-year term, which will expire at the end of 2016. Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson declared a mistrial in the Ellis case on Oct. 21 after jurors had deliberated 51 hours over 11 days and could not reach a unanimous decision on any of the 13 felony charges against Ellis. While the mistrial means Ellis still has his freedom, he is not really free. He would have needed an acquittal to avoid prison time and
return to work. Now, it remains to be seen if District Attorney Robert James will retry the case or if a plea deal may be negotiated or the case dropped altogether. James has not made any statement regarding the case because of a court gag order. Neither has Ellis nor his attorneys because of that order. Meanwhile, a group led by DeKalb NAACP President John Evans, is urging James not to retry Ellis. The group held a news conference the day after the mistrial was declared asking to meet with James, who was See Ellis mistrial, page 6
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
DeKalb NAACP President John Evans (center) is surrounded by supporters of Burrell Ellis in front of the DeKalb County courthouse for a special called press conference on Oct. 22 in Stone Mountain.
Breast Cancer BLING!
Andrew Young
Rockdale Democrats to host former Ambassador Andrew Young
F Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
Trudie Jeffrey shows-off her blinged out bra she created on Oct. 23 when she and other survivors and supporters came to DeKalb Medical’s Hillandale campus to decorate bras and learn about preventive measures in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month. See more on page 5.
By Valerie J. Morgan
ormer U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young will visit Rockdale County next month for a much-anticipated event the Rockdale Democratic Party is hosting. The Party is presenting “An Intimate Conversation with Ambassador Andrew Young “ on Nov. 1 at Cameron Hall, 1035 Green St., Conyers. The black tie, ticketed event, which includes a VIP reception and dinner with Young, is a fundraiser to help the Democratic Party maintain its presence in Rockdale. “This is not an event to endorse anyone. It’s a fundraiser. We want to keep our headquarters open so that we can continue to work to have Democrats elected,” said Tommy Plummer, the
Party’s chair. “We are one of the few county parties that has maintained an office since the 2012 Presidential election. Plummer said the event is open to anyone who wants to attend and meet the living legend. “Andrew Young is a living legend and we’re looking forward to all that he has to say about his political life, the Civil Rights Movement, and other things that he wants to discuss,” said Plummer. Plummer said he recently had the opportunity to sit down with Young at Young’s home and is eager to hear him speak. “He has a great sense of humor and many stories to tell,” Plummer said of the See Andrew Young, page 6