Rockdale News October 25th, 2014 by The Covington News

the NEWS Oct. 25, 2014

Volume 6, Issue 29

Preparing for Ebola

local agencies come together to develop protocols to handle Ebola.

Page 4

75 cents

rockdalenews.com

Serving Rockdale County and Conyers DEVELOPING STORY

Probate judge troubles continue By Michelle Kim

mkim@rockdalenews.com

Patriot Report The Patriots are struggling, Find out why.

Page 13

Election 2014

Kirby vs Thomas for Distr. 114

Page 3 Kim’s Closet, Wall of Hope revealed

Page 2 Like us at facebook.com/ rockdalenews Follow us @rockdalenews

A former Probate Court worker will move forward with the lawsuit against Rockdale County Probate Court Judge Charles K. Mays, Sr. for almost $20,000 of unpaid backpay after no response was received from Mays or the county by the Friday deadline, according to her attorney. A related lawsuit and a separate lawsuit involved Mays will also move forward in Magistrate Court in November. Freya Pearson, through her attorney Michael Waldrop, had threatened to sue Mays if the $20,000 in wages and expenses was not paid by Friday, 4 p.m. Waldrop said no response had been received by the deadline

and that they would be filing the lawsuit on Monday, Oct. 27. Mays family advisor Pastor Charmaine Moss nee Hutcheson told The News last Sunday, Oct. 19, that DJ Asante was working on a statement from the Mays family. On Monday while leaving his office, Mays deferred comment but did say regarding Pearson, “None of the allegations she’s making are true.” Mays said a statement would be sent from his attorney DJ Asante by Tuesday. However no statement received by press time Friday. Asante is not a member of the Georgia Bar nor the South Carolina Bar, according to the online member directory. Since then, attempts to reach Mays for comment were not returned by press time. Two other lawsuits involving

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Mays – one by contractor Rodney Scott who thought he was buying a condominium from Mays and invested $10,500 in renovating the unit, and one from the Mays Family Trust against Pearson for $5,600 unpaid rent – will also move forward in Magistrate Court Nov. 5. Magistrate Court Judge Phinia Aten filed to recuse herself and Magistrate Judges Garland Moore and Cindy Stacey from both cases. The replacement judge will be selected by the District 4 Representative of the Council of Magistrate Court Judges Executive Committee, Beryl Anderson. Freya Pearson Pearson, a family friend, moved around the end of February from California with her 13-year-old

daughter and 5-year-old granddaughter to live with the Mays’ family in their rented McCalla Street home in order to work on setting up a Veterans or Mental Health accountability court. Since Mays is not an active attorney nor a member of the Georgia Bar, any accountability court handling felony matters would need to be handled with the Superior Court, according to the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts. Probate Courts typically handle matters such as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, gun licenses, adoptions, wills. According to documents obtained by an Open Records Request, the court applied to the

See JUDGE, Page 4

The News

2 • Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014

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Man in custody after RCSO respond to gunshots call Probate Judge replies to backpay allegations Acuity to expand Rockdale, Dekalb facilities and bring 700 more jobs

Meeting Place SPLOST Citizens Oversight Committee, Monday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m., JP Carr Community Center, Taylor Street

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breast cancer awareness month

Unveiling Kim’s Closet, Wall of Hope By Tiffany Bentley

news@rockdalenews.com

Rockdale’s newest boutique helps cancer patients to look and feel lovely. Kim’s Closet Breast Cancer Boutique proudly opens its doors Tuesday, Oct. 21. This boutique specializes in styling women going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments. “Doctors tend to focus on the clinical aspects of the disease. They don’t talk about how it feels to lose your hair and eyebrows,” said Benny Atkins, president of the Kimberly Chance Atkins Foundation. This boutique will focus on helping women feel and look beautiful in spite of their sickness. The store will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. If client’s schedules don’t line up with store hours, the staff is more than willing to accommodate and make appointments. The store is staffed with volunteers, most of whom are Wall of Hope honorees

Courtesy Ezell’s Studios/Darrell Everidge/The News

The breast cancer survivors celebrated Tuesday and featured on this year’s Wall of Hope at the RMC Women’s Diagnostic Center, who had their portraits taken by Ezell’s Studios, are: Wendy Campbell, Cheryl Dreslin, Debbie Harris, Carolyn Hardy, Patsy Holmes, Mavine Hyde, Allision Kelley, Brenda Nichols, Sharon Willis (Not pictured: Debbe Schmidtt, Peggy Rowe) Claire Crawford’s (left) new mural spans the walls of the new Kim’s Closet Breast Cancer Boutique and fills the shop with a whimsical array of flowers. Ryan Shadrix (right) created a painting that adorns the walls of Kim’s Closet while at Rockdale Cares’ day program for developmentally challenged adults.

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The News

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 • 3

Acuity to expand, add 700 local jobs

ELECTION 2014

Taxes, jobs focus in House 114 race By Martin Rand, III

By Staff Reports

news@rockdalenews.com

The seat for state representative for District 114 is one of the few local races with challengers this year. The two candidates vying to be elected to the seat are incumbent candidate Republican Tom Kirby, who was first elected to the district seat in March 2012 during a special election to fill an unexpired term and was then re-elected in November 2012 during the general election, and Democrat Keith Thomas, who’s hoping to hold his first public office. Kirby, 53, said that it’s his desire to serve the people in the district is leading him back down the campaigning trail for this election. “I embrace that this is a servant’s position,” said Kirby in an email. “Being the representative is about serving the people. I am their voice in state government. I am there to act on their behalf when they have any issue with state government.” For Thomas, he wants an opportunity to represent his birthplace, Walton County, and the place where he grew up, Rockdale County, in the Georgia state legislature. District 114 represents parts of Rockdale, Walton, Gwinnett and Barrow counties. “I was born and raised in this district,” said Thomas. “I’ll be here ‘til I die.” Thomas, 57, said his primary objective if elected to the state government will be to reform Georgia’s public education system. With his 7-year-old grandson now enrolled in public school, he feels a duty to make sure he has the best tools available to be successful. “If you look at our education system, it’s near the bottom (compared to other states),” said Thomas, who wants local school districts to get more funding from the state budget. The state’s tax code is Kirby’s number one objective to reform. He introduced the Fair Taxation Act of 2014, H.B. 688, to the Georgia General Assembly in March 2013. The key point associated with the bill is to abolish the state income tax and replace it with a consumption tax on new goods and services. According to the Georgia General Assembly website, as of January, the bill has a status of House second reader. This means it’s being discussed by the Committee

strong business partner in Rock- ness incubator but had been put dale County, so we look forward back on the market. to their expanded workforce Acuity Brands will retrofit an Acuity Brands will expand its here because we know that this existing 167,000-square-foot operation, creating 700 jobs and wise, strategic move spurs our building in Decatur to become investing more than $16 million economic growth in many ways. its new state-of-the-art Engineerinto Rockdale and DeKalb coun- Their employees will shop, live ing and Technology Center. The ties over the next five years, an- and work here for many years to building located at 1 Lithonia nounced Governor Nathan Deal's come." Way will undergo a total transoffice Monday morning. The upgrades will reportedly formation that will begin immeAs part of a plan to create a not involve the 530,000 square diately. workplace that will drive collab-C R Efoot A T facility I V E S Ion G NRockdale O F F | IndusJaNiceVanness_14x48 2 DeKalb projThe $11 million oration, innovation and techno-EH trial | Revision #: 0 Blvd. — the former corpo- ect is scheduled for completion in logical advances, Acuity Brands rate headquarters of Lithonia mid-2015. will build a engineering and tech- Lighting - that the city had once Go to rockdalenews.com for nology center at a site it owns in considered for housing a busi- more. Decatur and will also invest in facility upgrades at its complex in Conyers. In Conyers, Acuity Brands will make investments in redesigning and retrofitting the four main buildings on its campus to include a workspace desgin, new infrastructure, enabling technologies and new furnishings. "It is exciting to be a part of this great business announcement," said Rockdale County Board Chair Richard Oden. "Acuity Brands has been a news@rockdalenews.com

TOM KIRBY MORE AT kirbyforgeorgia.com

KEITH THOMAS MORE AT keiththomashd114.com

on Ways and Means, which is the chief tax-writing committee in the House. For Georgia to compete with neighboring states for businesses, Kirby believes the state needs to transform the tax code. “It is time that we look at a complete transformation of the tax code,” said Kirby, who has worked in the Georgia manufacturing industry for 25 years. “There are so many different taxes that individuals and business are hit with. There are embedded taxes in all of the goods and services that we pay. It is past time to have a simpler fair tax for all Georgians.” See full article at

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The News

4 • Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014

Officials gather to prepare for Ebola By Martin Rand, III

mrand@rockdalenews.com

Rockdale, Newton and Gwinnett Health Departments fielded questions and concerns regarding the recent health scare

from one of those countries or a In attendance at the event country in West Africa doesn’t was Tonya Parker, director of make them a high risk target for community affairs for RockEbola, she said. dale County. She says that That person had to have contact public information officers with a suspected Ebola patient or and other officials in Rockdale worked in a health care facility have been meeting and talking treating Ebola patients in order to about the “what-ifs” should an be a high risk target, she added. Ebola case arise in the county “Just an individual coming for the past week. from one of those three countries She adds that it’s “been realin West Africa does not signify a ly quiet” in the county as far as risk for Ebola transmission,” Sul- citizens being concerned with ka told the crowd. “There has to Ebola or asking questions, be some additional risk exposure but tabletop discussions like that takes place.” Thursday at Rockdale MediRockdale County Public cal Center and Friday with the Schools spokesperson Cindy GRN county health department Ball said the school system reg- are always helpful. istrars have put in place a pro“I like that this is a proactive tocol for screening any students way to get In front and answer who are registering who have any questions we have because traveled to or from Guinea, Li- at some point, if in fact anyberia and Sierra Leone. thing does happen, you want “We’re not the health experts. to know who was my best reWe’re following what the ex- source, who should I go to perts are telling us to do,” said first. So this is always helpful,” Ball. “In those guidelines, we Parker said. have to assess the risk. We will For more information and the collaborate with those health ex- Discount. PowerPoint slide at Thursday’s Discount. perts to assess the risk and have tabletop, visit Rockdale Medical Discount. the collaborative decision asDiscount. to Center’s Ebola Toolbox at http:// whether they should wait for a Discount. www.rockdalemedicalcenter. Discount. period of time or whether they’re org/health_information/ebola_ fine to come in.” toolbox.aspx

Nearly 200 officials from Rockdale, Newton, and Gwinnett counties gathered Friday morning to have a conversation about proper protocols and procedures to initiate when dealing with someone who has contracted the Ebola virus. The main purpose of the tabletop discussion, hosted by the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Department on the campus of Gwinnett Technical College, was to field questions and concerns from the local agencies in the district with promises to answer them at a later date after deliberating with state officials. A few the concerns centered on what to do with children of an adult who contracted the virus, what message should be sent to the public about the Ebola virus, and how to handle an Ebola victim in the hospital while alive and after death. Another concern that came up was how to treat the quarantined family of an Ebola patient and what to do if someone suspected of having Ebola won’t assist with their own quarantine process. Discount. Each agency may have their Wally Taylor, Agent Wally Taylor, Agent Discount. Get them Get all withthem all with 885 Honey Creek 885 Honey CreekRoad Road own procedures in place when Discount Discount Double Check. Double Check. Conyers, GA GA 30094 Conyers, 30094 Bus: 770-483-4134 Bus: 770-483-4134 Discount. dealing with an infectious disease It’s a quickIt’ and way seasy a quick and easy way wally@wallytaylor.com wally@wallytaylor.com to make sure savingsure you’re saving toyou’re make such as Ebola but the discussion all you can.all Andyou it’s free. can. And it’s free. Friday was try to get all agencies Like a good neighbor, Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.Farm is there. State in the district on the same page CALL ME CALL TODAY. ME TODAY. and develop a basic understandWally Taylor, Agent Get them all with 885 Honey Creek Road Discount Double Check. Wally Taylor, Agent Conyers, GA 30094 ing among them. Get them all with Bus: 770-483-4134 885 Honey Creek Road It’s a quick and easy way wally@wallytaylor.com “We all have protocols indiDiscount Double Check. Conyers, GA 30094 to make sure you’re saving Bus: 770-483-4134 vidually based on our organiall you can. And it’s free. It’s a quick and easy way Like a good neighbor, wally@wallytaylor.com zation’s mission and purpose,” State Farm is there. to make sure you’re saving CALL ME TODAY. said GNR CountyWally HealthTaylor, De- Agent Get them with all you can. Andall it’s free. 885 Honey Creek Road partments Public Conyers, Information Discount Double Check. GA 30094 Like a good neighbor, Officer Jessica Anderson. “This Bus: 770-483-4134 State Farm is and there.® easy way It’s a quick wally@wallytaylor.com (discussion) here will refine this. ME TODAY. toCALL make sure you’re saving This is so we work together, and all you can. And it’s free. that we’re informed on how all Like a good neighbor, the agencies participating in the State Farm is there.® response will function.” CALL ME TODAY. It also gave the GNR County Health Departments an opportunity to debunk some myths surrounding the Ebola incidents. Alana Sulka, head of epidemi0901116 State Farm, Bloomington, IL ology and communicable diseases for GNR County Health Departments, enlightened the crowd State Farm, Bloomington, IL by telling 0901116 them who should be considered a high risk for Ebola and who shouldn’t. There are only three countries – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – in Africa dealing with an Ebola crisis, said Sulka. Just because someone travels to and departs

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JUDGE

From front page

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in March 2014 for about $360,000 to set up a Veterans and Mental Health Court targeting offenders with misdemeanors without substance abuse problems or who were “actively or acutely psychotic” with charges based on their illness. That application was turned down. A letter sent June 2014 from Superior Court Judge David Irwin to the Rockdale County Finance Department stated, regarding the authority to operate accountability courts, “I have had conversations with Judge Charles Mays informing him that he does not have such authority and I would not assist him or his office in seeking funds for such an endeavor.” An invoice submitted by Pearson calculated she had worked 616 regular hours and 239 overtime hours, and included a trip to the North Carolina Veterans Court in June that was paid out of pocket for a total of $24,125.

She was paid $4,420 through temp agency payments and one payment from the county. No other grants were reportedly gained by the Probate Court, according to a county spokesperson. Financial Troubles Mays had faced legal action regarding unpaid bills before and after he was elected as Probate Judge in 2012 and began in office in 2013. Danco Financial was seeking to garnish Mays’ wages in late 2013/early 2014 to recover about $3,200. Ford Motor Credit Company was also seeking the same for about $23,300. However a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy was filed in April 2014 for both Mays and his wife Victoria. At some point, a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy was filed instead, but the terms of the bankruptcy were not met and the Chapter 13 status was dismissed in September. As a Probate Judge in a county with a population between 75,000 to 99,999, Mays receives an annual salary of $67,800.

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A special supplement to The News

ROCKDALE

By John Ruch

W GOES TO THE

MOVIES

jruch@rockdalenews.com

ith metro Atlanta now known as “Hollywood South” for a bevy of major movie and TV show productions, Rockdale is among the places reaping the financial rewards—and gaining a bit of glamor along the way.

In the past five years, about 40 different productions have filmed here, pumping an estimated $20 million in the local economy, according to the Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council. Some stay briefly, like the new supernatural adventure show “Constantine” that filmed here over the summer and premiered this week on NBC. But the big impact comes from long-term productions that plant roots and spend big on wages, supplies and food. “The Originals” is the best-known example. With offices in Olde Town—where it often films—and massive studio space elsewhere in Conyers, the vampire series has spent at least $2.5 million in Rockdale, according to CREDC. It’s also given part of Olde Town a longterm cosmetics job, with facades and storefronts altered to look like the show’s New Orleans setting. Major movies often base themselves in local studio space as well, a trend that started in 2010 with the action film “Fast Five.” The horror films “Goosebumps” and “The Ring 3” are other recent examples. Those productions bring in or create hundreds of full-time jobs. Still Lumber is among the local businesses heavily patronized by such productions. “It is always [the film industry’s] intention to try to buy locally, and they are very easy to work with and always pay their bills on time,” manager Jason Hill previously told the News. “As far as we are concerned, they are very good customers. We appreciate their business and think they add to the local economy by being here.” A big reason Hollywood keeps coming to Rockdale: CREDC Project Manager Gina Hartsett, who also serves as the local liaison for the state’s Camera Ready Program, which certifies communities as willing and able to host film and TV productions. In several years in that role, she has established extensive relationships with location managers and production crews, making Rockdale a filming hotspot. Filming also can have a negative, if short-term, impact on local businesses when it shuts down streets. Especially in Olde Town, filming has long been controversial for that reason, and the tensions still flare up from time to time. This summer’s filming of the HBO movie “Bessie” drew complaints, including some grumbling at Conyers City Council, for disrupting business outside of the planned schedule. But overall, relations are improving. In part, that’s thanks to a new filming policy developed by the city and business leaders that lays down some ground rules and expectations of better behavior. Film crews are learning to treat Rockdale as a community, not a movie studio backlot. And CREDC began actively promoting some numbers to show that the movie business makes measurable contributions to the local economy. Conyers Councilman Vince Evans has been among the toughest critics of ill-mannered movie crews, but recently also has praised the improved relations and economic impacts. As a pharmacist at Beasley’s in Olde Town, he sees any work there first-hand. He also worked on the filming policy.

See IMPACT on page 11

The News

6 • Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014

Walking with ‘Vampires’ Local ‘stalker’ shares love of show with others By Staff Reports

news@rockdalenews.com

A date with a vampire may sound like a bad date to some, but for Jessica Lowery, a night out with the undead is just what she asked for. Along with her husband, Travis, Lowery has spent the last four years entertaining and educating Newton County visitors about The CW hit show, Vampire Diaries, with her Mystic Falls Tours, transforming Covington into the mystical town of Mystic Falls, Va. And starting a year ago, with the second season underway of the hit spinoff, The Originals, which turns Conyers into the steamy streets of New Orleans, vampire stalkers began roaming the streets of Olde Town. Lowery said her Vampire Stalkers Tours didn’t start off with stardom in mind. “When the show first started, my daughter was a teenager and we would go watch filming together,” Lowery said. “It was just mother/daughter time together and we really got into it. We started a blog where we would sort of track filming and some of the stars. Friends and family started calling the house and asking my husband where I was at. He’d tell them that I was out ‘stalking vampires’ and so ‘Vampire Stalkers’ was born.” Lowery kept the blog running, but a change in her job climate pushed her into starting the tours full time. “Towards the end of the first season, I was working with the school system’s special

needs program,” Lowery said. “I knew with budget cutbacks that I was going to be laid off at the end of the year. Around that same time, people started sending me messages and tweeting me requests asking if I could show them around the town if they came to Covington. “It started off slowly and we did a few tours here and there, but then more people came – from everywhere around the world – and it was amazing,” she said. “We started doing tours full time just to see how it would go and maybe get us through me losing my job until I found another. A few years later, I’m still giving tours and it has grown tremendously. I think we made the right choice.” During the tours, Lowery tries to give a wide range of different information every time. “Most people are avid fans and have watched it over and over again. But we have a lot of detail – what got cut, and what angles they tried. So and so changed their lines that day. If you have somebody who’s not a fan of the show, we hope he or she gets a kick out of hearing how this stunt was done.” She also talks about the many other films shot in Conyers during the Olde Town tours, which usually take place in the afternoons after the Mystic Falls tours. And she makes sure to support local businesses by pointing out things like an actress ate at this restaurant or another actor’s favorite flavor at this ice cream story is the mango sorbet to encourage tourists to go in and want to purchase things at that business. She also has memorabilia for The Originals and

Vampire Diaries on sale at Custom Embroidery in Olde Town Conyers and a flagship store on the Covington Square. Another unique thing about Olde Town, fans are able to tour the “set” – many of the changes to Olde Town’s storefronts, railings and streetlights were left in place – and see scenes being shot before the season starts. Many like to re-enact scenes from the show at the very locations they were shot. “We’re able to go into the Celtic and they’re able to see where the bar scenes were shot…. We’re able to walk through the alleyways. That’s a big buzz for tour guests to sit in places and know this was done here.” “We love that that’s happening. We hope they’ll continue to come back to Conyers a little more.” Lowery said her interest for the show has grown because of the support she’s received from the cast of vampires, werewolves, witches and hunters. “I don’t know if I would have been as interested in the show had it not been for the actors,” she said. “When you meet these people, they’re just so great. They care about you and how you’re doing. It’s not hard to connect with them. Without their interest, I don’t know if the tours would continue to do as well. It’s a lot easier to talk about something you love and I’m glad that I’ve been able to grow my passion of the show through them.” Lowery attends many of the outdoor shootings. “Most of the cast and crew know me at this point. We don’t tell spoilers, we don’t get in the way. They’re good to us.”

While Lowery has many great moments with the cast, she said one of her favorites came before the tours took off. “My first favorite moment had to be from season one,” Lowery said. “Kat Graham, who plays Bonnie on the show, asked my daughter and me if we wanted to go to lunch with her. We had met some of the cast at the time, but we hadn’t developed any kind of relationship with them. We thought it was just going to be us three. “We were surprised when we got there that it was Nina Dobrev’s birthday and a lot of the other cast members were there,” she said. “My daughter was

awestruck and it was great. We weren’t doing our tours then, but from that point on, they’ve supported us. It has been great.” With fans coming from as far as Brazil, Germany, Australia, Japan, Canada and Transylvania, Lowery hopes that the tours can grow, but keep its hometown feel. “At the end of the day, I love the fact I get to be a fangirl with them and they feel like they’re learning.” For more information on the Mystic Falls Vampire Diaries’ Tour, The Originals “Stalking” Tour, which are $55 per person, call 404-549-1489 or go to www. mysticfallstours.com

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The News

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 • 7

Steampunk superhero

web series a hit for local prop company By John Ruch

jruch@rockdalenews.com

A steampunk-superhero web series has become a surprise hit for the Conyers prop-weapons company Museum Replicas Limited, whose idea of filming an ad for fantasy costumes has taken on a life of its own. “Archangel: From the Winter’s End Chronicles” follows the adventures of a Batman-style vigilante in 1893 London who fights a pirate gang that flies around in sci-fi airships. It’s the brainchild of Dave Di Pietro, the director of new products at Museum Replicas. The two episodes released online last month—featuring surprisingly fancy sets and special effects— have more than 12,000 Facebook fans hungry for the “Victorian science fiction” genre known as steampunk.

“There’s talk of doing an official comic book as well as a series of novels and maybe even a movie,” Di Pietro told the News. The idea of the company making its own adventure series is partly inspired by Rockdale’s moviemaking boom. “We are blessed to be such a Hollywood hub of the East in Atlanta right now,” Di Pietro said. Museum Replicas and its parent company, Atlanta Cutlery Corporation, are based in a castle-shaped building at 2147 Gees Mill Road. Atlanta Cutlery started here in the 1970s as a knife-maker. In 1983, Museum Replicas was founded as division specializing in swords and armor—some historically accurate, some fantasy models. Today it also sells prop weapons and costumes based on such films as “Star Wars” and “Lord

of the Rings.” While the general public is welcome to shop at the Gees Mill showroom, Museum Replicas also often sells props to local and national movie and theater productions. “We supply ‘The Originals.’ We supply ‘The Vampire Diaries,’” said Di Pietro, referring to two locally filmed vampire TV shows. “We made the knife for James Bond in ‘Skyfall.’” They’ve also made armor for everything from “Monty Python’s Spamalot” to the new Dracula movie currently in theaters. All the manufacturing is done by India-based Windlass Corporation—the maker of the U.S. Marines dress sword—which bought the Conyers firm in the 1990s. Di Pietro, who joined the company in 2002, has a film background as well. An amateur movie-maker in high

school, he spent more than 13 years working at Paramount Pictures Home Video before moving into the weapon-making world. In recent years, he has directed TV commercials

and co-directed a short, live-action Batman fan film. When the company recently launched a line of steampunk

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This cozy community of Conyers-Rockdale is Camera Ready and a hotbed of film activity. Large studio movies, television shoots and independents have brought an estimated economic investment of more than $19 million in the community since 2009. Here are the locations of the top 10 movies/TV projects with the greatest economic impact to Conyers-Rockdale. For more, see filmrockdale.com.

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Action! Legend *Year of Production, Estimated Economic Impact in Rockdale County (where available)

In the Heat of the Night (1988 - 1994) 1. Olde Town Conyers, The Depot

Sweet Home Alabama (2001) 2. Georgia International Horse Park Drumline (2001) $5k 3. Salem High School

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Fast & Furious 5 (2010) $4.5m 4. Hall Building Joyful Noise (2011) $200k 5. Olde Town Conyers 6. Pine Log Park

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American Pie Reunion (2011) $4.2m 7. Hall Building 8. Costley Mill Park 9. Whistle Post Tavern 10. Heritage High School Prisoners (2013) $4.4m 11. Stanton Woods Subdivision 12. Milstead Village 13. Flat Shoals Road 14. Rockdale Career Academy The Originals (2014) $185k 15. Olde Town Conyers 16. Eastview Parkway Industrial Park 17. Georgia International Horse Park 18. Costley Mill Road Selma Productions (2014) $135k 19. Rockdale County Courthouse The Sunday Horse (2014) $125k 20. Georgia International Horse Park

Sponsored by Conyers Main Street Program Proud home of the Warner Brothers hit series “The Originals”

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10 • Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014

The News

HOT IN

#rockdalewood From “In the Heat of the Night” to “Goosebumps,” Rockdale’s movie scene has been going strong. Here are a few of the celebs sighted and scenes shot in Rockdale.

Ga. Int’l Horse Park, Bald Rock Meadow on Gees Mill Rd.

CONYERS!

SWEET HOME ALABAMA Rockdale’s own Dakota Fanning played the 8-yearold version of Reese Witherspoon’s protagonist Melanie Smooter. ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ /Touchstone Pictures

Center Street

Submitted photos

SELMA

THE

PRISONERS

ORIGINALS Casket Girls festival

Stanton Woods subdivision

Allen McIntosh with Oprah Winfrey at Rockdale County Courthouse

‘Prisoners’/Warner Brothers Pictures

Whistle Post Tavern AMERICAN REUNION

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The News

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 • 11

STEAMPUNK

IMPACT

From page 7

From page 5

“A lot of money has been spent [by] the film industry,” Evans said at a CREDC meeting earlier this year. That money looks like it will keep flowing. Each year since 2009, Rockdale has seen more film productions than the year before. This year’s tally is around a dozen. The following is a selection of some of the big productions to film here in recent years:

costumes, jewelry and fantasy weapons, Di Pietro got the movie-making itch. Museum Replicas has made online videos to advertise its products before— some of them a bit “off the wall,” he said, such as a Conan the Barbarian-themed one. But Di Pietro wanted to try something new—an original character with a story to tell. He came up with Archangel, the crime-fighting alter ego of a former spy who faked his own death and now lurks in a lair hidden under a cemetery. The first episode is a simple short film showing the hero using his “decoder ring” to unlock a mausoleum—in real life, part of Atlanta’s Oakland cemetery—and descending to his secret headquarters, which is a set built in a Museum Replicas warehouse. His bosses were impressed, responding with, “You did this with zero budget. What could you do if we threw some dollars at it?” A lot, as it turns out. Episode 2 of “Archangel” is a 15-minute adventure featuring ray guns, giant airships flying in the sky, and a sci-fi weapon that disintegrates an enemy’s head. Much of it was filmed in Atlanta’s Pullman Yard with a cast of nearly 50 people. The response has been so positive that “Archangel” has gone from being an ad for steampunk products to a product itself. Di Pietro, who writes and directs the series, is working on episode 3—it will be set inside one of the giant airships—while fielding possible book and movie opportunities. Part of its success is the untapped steampunk market. The genre is popular enough to have entire steampunk fan conventions—Museum Replicas is attending one in South Carolina soon—but there are few TV shows or movies set in its Victorian sci-fi world. “The first guy who does a real steampunk movie will roll in the bucks—and it might be us,” Di Pietro said. To catch up on “Archangel,” see its website at archangeltheseries.com.

“The Ring 3” (about to start filming) The latest sequel to the 2002 hit horror film, it will be based in a Conyers studio. It will spend big money on rent, supplies and hundreds of jobs.

“Goosebumps” (2014) A major Hollywood movie based on the enormously popular line of kiddie horror books, this Jack Black-starring production was headquartered in a Conyers studio. During a 10-month shoot, it spent millions locally and employed about 400 people full-time. The movie is slated for release next summer. “The Originals” (in production) The CW’s successful vampire series is based in Conyers studios and Olde Town offices, first arriving last year. It frequently films on the streets of Olde Town and inside such businesses as the Celtic Tavern. Conyers is seeing increasing tourism from fans the show. Meanwhile, the production has spent at least $2.5 million in Rockdale.

“Selma” (2014) Co-produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions, this dramatic movie about the 1965 Civil Rights marches in Alabama—where Martin Luther King Jr. and others faced horrific police and KKK violence—filmed a key scene in the Rockdale County Courthouse. The five-day shoot for that scene may not sound like much, but its economic impact is estimated at around $135,000. The film is slated for limited release this Christmas. “Prisoners” (2012-13) Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal starred in this thriller, which filmed in Rockdale for nearly a year and spent an estimated $4.4 million—not including fees paid to rent private properties. The film went on to be critically praised and was nominated for an Oscar for cinematography. “American Reunion” (2011) This installment of the “American Pie” comedy movies starred Jason Biggs, Tara Reid and Alyson Hannigan. It contributed more than $4 million to the local economy during a 10-month shoot. “Fast Five” (2010) Part of the wildly successful “Fast and the Furious” action movie franchise, this film brought $4.5 million to Rockdale while its metro Atlanta production unit was based here.

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The News

Sports

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 Page 13 rockdalenews.com Darrell Everidge /The News

itation from the quarterback, especially on hitch routes. David Turner is a good quarterback, but at times he can be too patient looking for the big play instead of taking what the defense gives him. Making the quick read and

throw should be an easy fix. The Patriots’ problems are fixable and with two games to go, if they win out and get some help from other teams, they might find themselves as a dangerous team in the playoffs.

c el ebrating 50 years

What’s wrong with Heritage? By Shakeem Holloway

sholloway@rockdalenews.com

At 2-5 (not including last night’s results) the Heritage Patriots are a bit of a puzzle. Although their record says, “We’re not a good team,” that’s not the complete truth. Sitting at seventh in the region standings, Heritage is 2-4 in the region with the only two wins coming against a 2-4 (against region opponents) Flowery Branch team and an 0-6 Cedar Shoals team. Still, with this team you wonder what might have been. It wasn’t a region game, but Heritage’s season opener against Rockdale ended in dramatic fashion. After the Patriots had led by twelve early in the game, they let Rockdale back in it and the Bulldogs had a 28-26 lead with less than a minute to go. However, the Patriots had a chance to win the game with

David Turner’s heave downfield but the receiver missed it and Heritage lost the game. There were two other close losses for Heritage this year, both were against region opponents. Against Salem, Heritage couldn’t muster up enough points to overcome the Seminole’s stout defense when they lost 19-14. And against Loganville, it was much of the same. The defense played well, holding Loganville to 13 points but Heritage couldn’t get over the hump to get the win. Against Lanier, a strong team that was undefeated in the region, at times Heritage didn’t look like a bottom tier team. Emmanuel Holmes stood out on defense and played exceptionally well. The defense as a whole played well at times too, forcing Lanier into a few crucial fourth downs and creating turnovers. Lanier was willing to gamble on a couple of fourth downs to

keep drives going and they converted, but the fact that Heritage was able to force them into fourth downs twice proves Heritage has the ability to play sound defense. A fake punt that went for a huge gain also kept Lanier them ahead in the game. Being able to hold on fourth down will be crucial for the Patriots if they’re going to make the playoffs, which right now is a long shot. But it’s still a shot. Another area of improvement for the Patriots is penalties. They beat themselves, stalling drives and giving Lanier free yardage. Penalties are usually mental, sometimes they’re pre-snap penalties and that’s on the coaches, but most of Heritage’s penalties were jumps offsides or false starts. On offense, Heritage has the athletes to put up points, it’s just a matter of putting it together. The coaches do their best to put the playmakers in position to make plays, but sometimes there’s hes-

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Religion

Saturday, Saturday,Oct. Oct.25, 25,2014 2014 Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 Page Page14 14 Page 14 rockdalenews.com rockdalenews.com rockdalenews.com

WORSHIP in PINK

Antioch AME and community groups celebrated the annual Worship in Pink - a service with a breast cancer awareness message - on Sunday, Oct. 19, featuring physician Dr. Earl Thurmond and the Rev. Carolyn Williams, and Antioch’s the Rev. Dr. Stafford J. Wicker.

Breast cancer survivors honored included: Sarah Malone, Mary Ann Nolley, Hildred Griggs, Joanne Martin, Dorothy L. Moore, Shermanetta Carter, Billie Sanders, Katrina Stanfield, Helen Fenn, Kimberly Hunley, Rebecca Willis, Joyce Martinez, Floy Henderson-Wilkerson, Melvatasky Henderson, Carolyn Washington, Betty Stuckey, Miriam Henderson, Shelethia Holt, Celia Hemphill, Gladys Douglas, Patricia Michelle MichelleKim/The Kim/TheNews News Michelle Kim/The News Benton, Courtney Weathers, Lavette Levett. Michelle Kim/The News

Breast Breastcancer cancersurvivors survivorshonhonBreast cancer survivors honored ored included: included: Sarah Sarah Malone, Malone, ored included: Sarah Malone, Mary MaryAnn AnnNolley, Nolley,Hildred HildredGriggs, Griggs, Mary Ann Nolley, Hildred Griggs, Joanne Joanne Martin, Martin, Dorothy Dorothy L. L. Moore, Moore, Joanne Martin, Dorothy L. Moore, Shermanetta Shermanetta Carter, Carter, Billie Billie Sanders, Sanders, Shermanetta Carter, Billie Sanders, Katrina KatrinaStanfield, Stanfield,Helen HelenFenn, Fenn, Katrina Stanfield, Helen Fenn, Kimberly Kimberly Hunley, Hunley, Rebecca Rebecca Willis, Kimberly Hunley, Rebecca Willis, Willis, Joyce Joyce Martinez, Martinez, Floy Floy HendersonHendersonJoyce Martinez, Floy HendersonWilkerson, Wilkerson,Melvatasky MelvataskyHenderson, Henderson, Wilkerson, Melvatasky Henderson, Carolyn Carolyn Washington, Washington, Betty Betty Stuckey, Carolyn Washington, Betty Stuckey, Stuckey, Miriam Miriam Henderson, Henderson, Shelethia Shelethia Holt, Miriam Henderson, Shelethia Holt, Holt, Celia Celia Hemphill, Hemphill, Gladys Gladys Douglas, Douglas, Celia Hemphill, Gladys Douglas, Patricia PatriciaBenton, Benton,Courtney CourtneyWeathers, Weathers, Patricia Benton, Courtney Weathers, Lavette Lavette Levett. Levett. Lavette Levett.

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Sunday SundaySchool School8:45 8:45am am Sunday School 8:45 am Sunday SundayWorship Worship10:00 10:00am am Sunday Worship 10:00 am Rev. Rev.Dr. Dr.Stafford StaffordJ.N. J.N.Wicker, Wicker,Sr. Sr.Pastor Pastor Rev. Dr. Stafford J.N. Wicker, Sr. Pastor

Smyrna SmyrnaCampground Campground Smyrna Campground & PresbyterianChurch Church &&Presbyterian Presbyterian Church

Sunday SundayWorship Worship Sunday Worship Sunday Sunday School School 9:40 9:40 am am Worship11:00 11:00am am Sunday School 9:40 am •• •Worship Worship 11:00 am

Nov. Nov.7 7- -Drive Drivethru thruBBQ BBQstarting startingatat4:00 4:00pm. pm.Sandwich, Sandwich,chips chips&&drink drink Nov. 7 - Drive thru BBQ starting at 4:00 pm. Sandwich, chips & drink $4.00. $4.00.Extra Extrasandwich sandwich$3.00. $3.00.Cash Cashororcheck checkonly only~~770-483-0911 770-483-0911 $4.00. Extra sandwich $3.00. Cash or check only ~ 770-483-0911 ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ Nov. Nov.1717thru thru2424- Collection - CollectionCenter CenterOperation OperationChristmas ChristmasChild Child(dining (dining Nov. 17 thru 24 - Collection Center Operation Christmas Child (dining hall hallhours) hours)- 17th, - 17th,19th, 19th,21st 21st&&24th 24th1010am amtoto1212noon. noon.18th 18th&&20th 20th5 5pm pm hall hours) - 17th, 19th, 21st & 24th 10 am to 12 noon. 18th & 20th 5 pm toto7 7pm; pm;22nd 22nd1010am amtoto2 2pm pmand and23rd 23rd2 2pm pmtoto4 4pm pm~~770-608-3098 770-608-3098 to 7 pm; 22nd 10 am________________________ to 2 pm and 23rd 2 pm to 4 pm ~ 770-608-3098 ________________________ ________________________ Nov. Nov.2323- Community - CommunityThanksgiving ThanksgivingService Serviceatat5:00 5:00pm pm Nov. 23 - Community Thanksgiving Service at 5:00 pm Conyers ConyersPresbyterian, Presbyterian,Grace GraceCovenant CovenantPresbyterian, Presbyterian,Presbyterian PresbyterianChurch Church Conyers Presbyterian, Grace Covenant Presbyterian, Presbyterian Church ofofthe theResurrection, Resurrection,and andBethany BethanyPresbyterian Presbyterianwill willgather gatheratatSmyrna Smyrnaand anda a of the Resurrection, and Bethany Presbyterian will gather at Smyrna and a meal mealofofsoup soup&&sandwiches sandwicheswill willfollow followthe theservice serviceininthe thedining dininghall. hall. meal of soup & sandwiches will follow the service in the dining hall. COME COMEWORSHIP WORSHIPWITH WITHUS! US! COME WORSHIP WITH US! 2920 2920Highway Highway212 212SW SW• •Conyers, Conyers,Georgia Georgia30094 30094 2920 Highway 212 SW • Conyers, Georgia 30094 770-483-8962 770-483-8962• •www.smyrnapc.com www.smyrnapc.com 770-483-8962 • www.smyrnapc.com

Discover Discover your your passion. passion. Discover your passion. Attend Attend a a GPC GPC Open Open House. House. Attend a GPC Open House. RSVP RSVP at at openhouse.gpc.edu openhouse.gpc.edu RSVP at openhouse.gpc.edu

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9/29/14 9/29/142:32 2:32 PM PM 9/29/14 2:32 PM

Religion

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 Page 14 rockdalenews.com

WORSHIP in PINK Michelle Kim/The News

“Take The Step” Breast cancer survivors honored included: Sarah Malone, Mary Ann Nolley, Hildred Griggs, Joanne Martin, Dorothy L. Moore, Shermanetta Carter, Billie Sanders, Katrina Stanfield, Helen Fenn, Kimberly Hunley, Rebecca Willis, Joyce Martinez, Floy HendersonWilkerson, Melvatasky Henderson, Carolyn Washington, Betty Stuckey, Miriam Henderson, Shelethia Holt, Celia Hemphill, Gladys Douglas, Patricia Benton, Courtney Weathers, Lavette Levett.

Antioch AME Church 1790 Ebenezer Road, Conyers, GA

770-761-0006 Sunday School 8:45 am Sunday Worship 10:00 am Rev. Dr. Stafford J.N. Wicker, Sr. Pastor

Smyrna Campground & Presbyterian Church Sunday Worship Sunday School 9:40 am • Worship 11:00 am Nov. 7 - Drive thru BBQ starting at 4:00 pm. Sandwich, chips & drink $4.00. Extra sandwich $3.00. Cash or check only ~ 770-483-0911 ________________________ Nov. 17 thru 24 - Collection Center Operation Christmas Child (dining hall hours) - 17th, 19th, 21st & 24th 10 am to 12 noon. 18th & 20th 5 pm to 7 pm; 22nd 10 am to 2 pm and 23rd 2 pm to 4 pm ~ 770-608-3098 ________________________ Nov. 23 - Community Thanksgiving Service at 5:00 pm Conyers Presbyterian, Grace Covenant Presbyterian, Presbyterian Church of the Resurrection, and Bethany Presbyterian will gather at Smyrna and a meal of soup & sandwiches will follow the service in the dining hall. COME WORSHIP WITH US! 2920 Highway 212 SW • Conyers, Georgia 30094 770-483-8962 • www.smyrnapc.com

Discover your passion. Attend a GPC Open House. RSVP at openhouse.gpc.edu

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9/29/14

2:32 PM

The News

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 • 15