Public Safety Briefs

The Decatur Police Department has released its first data since it began tracking the demographics of persons stopped by the police on Aug. 1. The first quarterly report shows that the racial make-up of those involved in police-initiated stops mirrors the racial make-up of Decatur, DeKalb County and the City of Atlanta, which shares a border with Decatur. Quarterly reports will be released and posted to decaturpolice.com.“It is still very early, but the police department’s tracking of demographic data of persons stopped by the police, whether on foot, bicycle or in a motor vehicle, seems to be working well,” said Decatur Mayor Jim Baskett. “The City Commission believes this and all the data collected by the Decatur Police Department are key to ensuring our city’s police department remains the responsible team of dedicated professionals that Decatur expects and deserves.” In addition to recording the race of individuals stopped by the police, the Decatur Police Department tracks citizen complaints, use of force by officers and police pursuits of suspects. This week, all Decatur Police officers and the city’s management team completed a diversity program led by trainers from the Anti-Defamation League’s A World of Difference Institute (ADL.org).

Atlanta Police Chief George Turner was recently elected as one of the Eastern Region Representatives of the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA). Turner’s two year term, which begins in January, will see hime work alongside Chief Jane Castor from Tampa, as they co-serve as Eastern Region Representatives.

The Atlanta Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit have graduated O cer Vrndavana Holden and O cer Christopher Pellegrino after 12 weeks of rigorous training, which took place at the APD Mounted Patrol Barn in Grant Park. The officers learned the basic fundamentals of horsemanship, how to care for the horses and barn facilities, as well as understanding and working with the temperament of the horses. They have also learned to navigate all types of terrains and environments throughout the city.

Thunder tasted the sweet life at PAWS Atlanta’s summer camp. He was groomed, walked, shampooed, petted, tickled and the kids couldn’t get enough of him. Thunder wants that again: to be special, and wanted. He is an eager, intelligent, affectionate and playful dog. Thunder likes kids and dogs, though he can be a little “chatty” on walks. All he needs is a chance. To adopt Thunder or any of the other available dogs and cats searching for a home, visit pawsatlanta.org or stop by the shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur.

David York has opened the sixth Barking Hound Village (barkinghoundvillage.com) location in Inman Park at 745 Edgewood Ave. featuring grooming and daycare. Future plans include a boarding facility. Along with grooming services, the location also offers specialty dog foods, treats and toys for every canine on your holiday gift list.

The seventh annual Reindog Parade will be held on Dec. 6 – the only day of the year that four-legged pals are allowed to set paw in the Atlanta Botanical Garden. During the event, which begins at 11 a.m., pups clad in their finest holiday attire will parade across a stage before a panel of judges to compete for prizes – or just to show off for fun. Categories include Best Puppy, Best Adult, Best Botanical, Best Dog-Owner Dress-alike, Best Dog Pack, and ultimately, Best in Show. Emceeing the competition will be Atlanta resident Victoria Stilwell, host of the Animal Planet cable TV show “It’s Me or the Dog,” and Atlanta TV and radio personality Holly Firfer. A Doggie Expo will offer canine-related products, services and information, warm refreshments will be available under the Pup Tent, and participants may have photos of their dogs made with botanical Saint Nick. Pre-registration is encouraged by Dec. 2. The cost, in addition to regular Garden admission, is $15 per dog, or $18 at the door (maximum two dogs per owner). For more information, visit atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

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A Look Back

This Month in History

Ann Taylor Boutwell

Dec 1. 1977: Dr. Alonzo Crim, Atlanta’s first African American superintendent of schools, informed the Atlanta Public School Board that Georgia Tech had made a firm offer to purchase the O’Keefe Middle School. It was located at the corner of 6th Street and Techwood Drive. The original building, built as a junior high school, opened in October 1923. It sold at the end of 1977-78 school session, and Georgia Tech incorporated it as part of the college campus where it remains today.

Dec. 4, 1912: After a month’s delay, Dan Carey, Atlanta’s general manager of parks, received authorization for the $350 he requested to relocate the Erskine Memorial Fountain. A few days later, as Carey promised, it was placed in Grant Park, where it remains today. Honoring her late father, Mrs. Ruby Erskine Ward of New York commissioned New York sculptor John Massey Rhind to design the piece as a gift to Atlanta. It was originally located in Hardy Ivy Park at the junction of of Peachtree, Baker, and West Peachtree.

Dec. 9, 1971: The Cyclorama of the Battle of Atlanta was listed on National Register of Historic Places. The giant painting is currently located in Grant Park, but will move in 2017 to the Atlanta History Center campus in Buckhead.

Dec. 14, 1988: Mayor Andrew Young received a telegram from Paris, France. It read: Very deeply hope that the report is not true regarding your having granted permission to destroy the structure in which Margaret Mitchell wrote the great American classic Gone With the Wind. It would be a great credit to your administration if you were to assure the preservation of this landmark, which means so much to millions of people all over the world. The telegram was signed by Olivia de Havilland, who played Melanie in the film. The Margaret Mitchell House & Museum still stands today at the corner of 10th and Crescent in Midtown.

Dec. 15, 1939: Gone With the Wind had its world premiere at the Loew’s Grand Theatre in Downtown Atlanta.

Special

ABOVE: The world premiere of Gone With the Wind was held at Loew’s Grand Theatre in Downtown Atlanta (the theatre burned in 1978 and the Georgia Pacific building now occupies the site) on December 15, 1939. BELOW: A monument to philanthropist Alice Dugged Carey on Auburn Avenue in Downtown.

Dec. 19, 1921: The high-class apartments at Parkview opened on the northwest corner of 14th Street and Piedmont Avenue in what is now known as Midtown. The three buildings had a scenic view of the entrance to Piedmont Park and the Peace Monument. J. S. Whisenat & Sons were the owners. An advertisement for the apartments noted it had 21 units ranging from three to six rooms each. Atlanta architect. E. C. Seiz designed the building in an “L” shape.

Dec. 24, 1908: Philanthropist Alice Dugged Carey held a Christmas dinner for the African American newsboys of the old Atlanta Georgian newspaper at Big Bethel Church on Auburn Avenue. Carey would host the dinner every year from 1908 to 1918 in an effort to “benefit her race.” Carey was an educator and excelled in pedagogy, literature, and economics attending Harvard University, Morris Brown College, and Wilberforce University.

By Tim Sullivan