CRIME DOG
TURNING 100
ChevY’s BACK
K-9 ‘Perro’ joins Lithonia police force
Conyers resident credits God to long life
Superior Chevrolet celebrates re-grand opening in South DeKalb
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Serving DeKalb & Metro Atlanta Volume 17 Number 15
www.ocgnews.com
NOVEMBER 1, 2011
FREE
Leaders salute Obama’s appointees
Postal Service unveils stamp for Decatur pastor
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By Valerie J. Morgan
eulah Baptist Church in South DeKalb has a lot to shout about. The United States Postal Service is honoring the church’s pastor, Jerry D. Black, with a commemorative stamp in honor of his 20 years of service to Beulah and his 35 years in ministry. The Postal Service unveiled the Jerry D. Black Commemorative Stamp on Oct. 2 and the church began taking pre-sale orders on Oct. 30. The stamp is the 34th to be released in the Postal Service’s “Living Legends” series and is only available through special orders. “When the stamp was unveiled, Pastor Black was so surprised that he was at a loss for words—he was speechless,” said Christopher Hightower, who handles marketing for the church. The church, Hightower said, has had a big demand for the limited edition stamp. The stamp sheets, which are $16 a page, contain 20 stamps per sheet. “We took a lot of orders for the commemorative stamp on our Family and Friends Day, which was held Oct. 30,” Hightower said. “We had so many people who came to worship that we had to turn people away.” The stamp recognizes Pastor Black for reaching far beyond the walls of the Decatur church, with Beulah providing assistance on a regular basis to veterans, needy families, the elderly, the homeless and others who are downtrodden through several innovative and creative ministries. The Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rainbow Push plan to salute Black on Nov. 4 at the organization’s annual conference. Black is one of five pastors who will See Pastor, page 6 INSIDE
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Photos by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
Congressman Hank Johnson and DeKalb County Super District Commissioner Stan Watson presented the “Trail Blazer Leadership of Excellence Awards” to recognize President Obama’s five Southeast Regional appointees.
Gwendolyn Keyes-Fleming, regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. Keyes-Fleming is the first African American to hold the position. She formerly served as DeKalb County District Attorney (the first African American and first woman elected for the position) and the DeKalb Solicitor-General (first African American, first woman and the youngest person in history elected to the position). Edward Jennings, Jr., Department of Housing and Urban Development. Before accepting the appointment as HUD Regional Director, Jennings served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000-2006 where he worked to expand access to health care, employment, transportation, and was a staunch advocate for affordable housing.
Gwendolyn Keyes-Fleming, EPA Regional Administrator
By Valerie J. Morgan
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tlanta’s top brass—those appointed by President Barack Obama to head the nation’s top posts in the Southeast —shared the spotlight recently as dignitaries and community leaders came together to honor them at an awards program held in DeKalb County. Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents the Fourth District, and DeKalb County Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson presented the inaugural “Trail Blazer Leadership of Excellence Awards” to formally recognize the President’s five appointees for the Southeast (Region IV), which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Those tapped for the positions are experienced, respected leaders Johnson and Watson say have given tirelessly to their communities: Cassius Butts, Small Business Administration, regional director. Butts, who has degrees from Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University, began his career as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2002 with the U.S. Housing and Urban Development. Prior to his 10-year tenure within the federal government, Butts worked in senior leadership positions for city government agencies, national lending institutions and higher education.
Paulette Norvel Lewis, United States Department of Labor, regional administrator of the Department’s Women’s Bureau. An alumna of Leadership Atlanta and the Diversity Leadership Academy of Atlanta, Lewis is a member of the founding board of the International Community School in Clarkston, GA, and a founding member of S.O.A.R., a mentoring organization for young college women. Carlis V. Williams, Department of Health and Human Services. Before assuming her present position, Williams served as Executive Assistant to the Governor for Human Services in the State of Indiana. She served as chief policy advisor and was responsible for four agencies: Family and Social Services Administration, the Governor’s Council on Disabilities, the Governor’s Council on Protection and Advocacy and the Governor’s Council on Sports and Fitness. “They are the unsung heroes and sheroes who are always working behind the scenes for our communities,” Johnson said. There was standing-room only at the awards program, which was held at Arizona’s restaurant, located outside the Mall at Stonecrest in unincorporated Lithonia. Kiss 104.1 FM radio personality Sasha the Diva presented hosted the event and presented the Occasion. Watson said he and Johnson plan to present he Trail Blazer Leadership of Excellence awards annually to deserving leaders who impact the community. The nominees, he said, will be chosen in the areas of business, citizens, faith based community, government, and our youth.