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VOLUME 24 NUMBER 1
MARCH 31, 2018
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Cyber attack cripples city of Atlanta services Rockdale County government survived attack last year By Valerie J. Morgan
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week after a cyber attack shut down several of the city of Atlanta’s services, city officials announced that the ATL311 website has resumed accepting online service requests. City officials said the web site was disabled out of an abundance of caution on March 22 while the City worked to restore the systems shut down by hackers. The ransomware attack paralyzed Municipal Courts, preventing them from processing ticket payments, and forced officials to reschedule court appearances, halt new water service requests and suspend applications for employment with the city until further notice. As of On Common Ground News deadline on March 29, city officials still had not decided whether to pay the $51,000 ransom sought by hackers to unlock the city’s systems. City officials found out the systems had been hacked on March 22 when employees could not access their computer systems. The city has hired SecureWorks, an Atlanta-based information security firm, to restore its computers and update security software against future attacks. The city of Atlanta is not the only local government that has faced a cyber attack on its systems. Rockdale County government’s systems were hacked last May, shutting down several services including some services at the County Jail. Rockdale’s Chief of Staff Corey Hambrick said it took about two weeks to completely restore services in Rockdale. “Fortunately, we didn’t have to pay a ransom,” said
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Beacon Hill NAACP leaders Jana Johnson-Davis and her husband, Attorney Mawuli Davis, organized the candlelight vigil.
Tragedy brings Decatur community together
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By Travis Hudgons
everal hundred people gathered March 27 at the Beacon Municipal Courtyard in downtown Decatur for a candlelight vigil honoring 14-year-old Shykia Ward-Reese. According to reports, Shykia was stabbed to death along with her mother’s boyfriend, 35-year-old Manuel De Jesus Franco, by her uncle 36-year-old Royce Alex Stewart on March 25 at the Trinity Walk Apartments in downtown Decatur. The vigil, organized by the Beacon Hill NAACP, was an opportunity for the community to come together to grieve and show its support to Shykia’s family. “She had a smile that could light up a room,” said Jana Johnson-Davis. Johnson-Davis, who helped organize the vigil, knew Shykia through her involvement with the Young Ladies of Excellence Club at Renfroe Middle School in Decatur. She told the somber crowd the vigil was held to show Shykia’s family how much the city of Decatur loves them. “I hope that we as a community have grown closer through this tragic event,” said Johnson-Davis. Friends, family members, teachers, classmates and others were invited to share stories and memories of the Renfroe Middle 8th grader. Some told stories that caused laughter, while others fought back tears, but the driving sentiment held by all was Shykia’s infectious smile and zeal for life. “Shykia could walk in and light up third period with a smile and turn a walk to the pencil sharpener into a dance party,” said Renfroe teacher Corrie Bounds, “She had a heart of gold.” As the sun fell and tears flowed,
Hundreds of people laid hands on one another and prayed during the candlelight vigil at the Beacon Municipal Courtyard in downtown Decatur. Photos by Travis Hudgons/OCG News
the mournful crowd laid hands on one another and prayed as they lit candles and released balloons honoring the life of the young victim. Police arrested Stewart on March 27. He was charged with two counts of murder and one count of theft by taking of a 2014 Ford Mustang convertible. No motive was given for the attacks. The funeral will be Saturday, March
31, at 11 a.m. at Hands of The Lord International, 1399 Austin Drive, Decatur. There will be a repass after the funeral at Renfroe Middle School, 220 West College Ave., Decatur at 3 p.m. A GoFundMe page (https://www. gofundme.com/help-for-shykia-ward) has been established for Shykia, who is survived by her mother and 7-year-old sister.
BBB: Beware of new Medicare card scam The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning Medicare recipients to beware of con artists soliciting information by telephone. Medicare cards are undergoing a change to make them more secure, however, scammers are taking advantage of confusion during the launch. How the Scam Works: You receive a call from a person claiming to work with Medicare. They are allegedly calling about the new Medicare card that began being mailed this spring. The cards will be more secure because they use a “Medicare Beneficiary Identifier,”
instead of a Social Security number. The scammer claims that there's a problem with your card. The con artist may say your new card was lost or someone tried to use your ID number. To resolve the situation, the scammer just needs your Social Security number. In another version, the scammer claims you must pay money to receive your new Medicare card. They may ask you for payment information, so they can “complete the process” for you. They may even ask you to mail them your old card. How to Avoid Medicare Scams:
• Know how the Medicare card switch works. Understand that Medicare isn't calling consumers about the card switch. Also, the new Medicare cards are being provided free of charge. • Never provide personal information to a stranger. Don't share personal details with anyone who calls you unsolicited. Do not confirm or give out your full name, address, Social Security number or any other personal information. For More Information: Read more about the new cards and their security benefits on Medicare.gov.