the DeKalb
23, NO 13 • FREE
Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest and Tucker
African immigrant
excels in STEM, receives
$40,000 scholarship
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
Before he came to the United
States, Amadou Bah’s exposure
to education occurred in an
environment where laundry
was done by hand and corporal
punishment was a possibility.
Now, he’s the recipient of a
$40,000 a year scholarship.
MARTA officers respond to two medical emergencies
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Four MARTA police
officers were able to
revive two men who
went into cardiac arrest at
Kensington Station April
17.
The officers used an
automated external
defibrillator (AED)
and cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) on both
men. MARTA police said,
Officer K. Softley, Corporal
M. Woodward, Officer in
Training B. Dennis, and
Sgt. L. Martin were alerted
to a man who was in
cardiac arrest.
Softely told The
Champion that the man
was talking and told the
officers that he had two
previous heart attacks and
he was having chest pains.
“At that point he started
to sweat profusely from the
face,” Softely said. “That’s
when Corporal Woodward
told Officer Dennis to
Visit www.championnewspaper.com for local, real DeKalb County news.
FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018 • VOL.
Born in Guinea, West Africa,
Bah moved across the African
continent to Mozambique to live
with his aunt when he was 7. As
part of his education, Bah’s aunt
sent Bah to a boarding school in
the small landlocked monarchy
of Swaziland, where he spent
three years learning English.
While there, Bah said he had
access to only the very basic
of learning materials. While
the boarding school didn’t
SEE STEM ON PAGE 11
Corporal M. Woodward, left, Officer in Training B. Dennis, Sgt. L. Martin, and Officer K. Softley revived two men
who went into cardiac arrest at Kensington Station.
grab the AED, which he
did. And we stood by and
waited on EMS to arrive.
Before EMS could respond
the gentleman went into
cardiac arrest.”
They used the AED
Amadou Bah discusses a problem with a student he tutors. Photo courtesy Georgia State
University.
and performed CPR on
the man until he regained
consciousness. MARTA
police said the man was
alert and speaking with
officers when transported
to the hospital, but he
• A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS
suffered another medial
event at the hospital and
died.
More than an hour
later, the same officers
were called to a medical
emergency in the bus
loop at the train station.
MARTA police said Softley
and Woodward used the
AED and CPR to regain the
heartbeat of a man who
had also gone into cardiac
arrest. The man remains in
stable condition.
Softley said they don’t
see many emergencies of
that nature.
“Police work is
unpredictable, so this
particular event was
unusual in a sense of what
happened,” he said.
This was the first time
Softley had responded
to these types of
emergencies.
“A lot of times, we are
trained to do a [variety]
of things and when your
training actually kicks in,
it helps,” he said. “I just
relied on my training that I
received.”
MARTA police Public
Information Officer
Corporal Brian Lauda said
MARTA officers train bi-
annually for emergencies
SEE MARTA ON PAGE 11
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, May 4, 2018 • Page 2
LOCAL
AROUNDDEKALB
CLARKSTON
Children’s story festival set
The sixth annual “Clarkston Children’s
Tell Me a Story!” festival will be held
May 12 at the Clarkston Community
Center from 2 to 5 p.m. The community
center is located at 3701 Clarkston
Ave. For more information, visit www.
clarkstontellmeastory.org.
DECATUR
School desegregation in DeKalb
topic of lunch and learn
DeKalb History Center’s May lunch
and learn will be presented by Daniel
Amsterdam, who will discuss the
desegregation, and subsequent re-
segregation, of the DeKalb County
school system.
Amsterdam is an assistant professor
of U.S. history at Georgia Tech
and author of Roaring Metropolis:
Businessmen’s Campaign for a Civic
Welfare State, according to a release
from DeKalb History Center.
The May 15 event is free to attend
and attendees are encouraged to
bring lunch. The presentation is from
noon until 1 p.m at the Historic DeKalb
Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square in
downtown Decatur.
DUNWOODY
City to host Coffee with a Cop
Dunwoody Police Department
hosts its Coffee with a Cop event
May 8 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at
WE ARE SOCIAL
DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, May 4, 2018 • Page 3
Chick-fil-A Perimeter, 4350 Ashford
Dunwoody Road. This program was
created for citizens to meet with
local law enforcement for one-on-
one conversations. There will be 720
agenda or speeches, just a chance
to ask questions, voice concerns and
get to know neighborhood officers.
Chick-fil-A is offering free coffee to
the officers and residents who attend.
For more information contact officer
Anwar Sillah at (678) 382-6933 or
at Anwar.Sillah@dunwoodyga.gov.
STONE MOUNTAIN
Free concert scheduled
Davin McCoy Trio will perform May
11 at Stone Mountain’s Tunes by the
Track series. The free concert will be
held at 922 Main Street near the gazebo school diploma or GED.
from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information,
visit www.stonemountaincity.org.
TUCKER
Tucker Day to be May 12
“Dancin’ in the Street!” is this year’s and sick days, deferred compensation
theme for Tucker Day 2018, which
will be held May 12 on Main Street.
The street festival will include musical
acts, vendors and food. For more
information, visit www.tuckerga.gov.
Class on Tucker's government
On May 8, Tucker Mayor Frank
Auman, City Manager Tami Hanlin and
members of the Tucker city staff will
give a department-by-department look
at how city hall functions. Participants
@DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
will hear short presentations ranging
from the city’s economic development
plan to city budgeting. There will be
time for questions of individual staff
members. Class begins at 7 p.m. at city
hall annex, 4228 First Ave.
DeKalb County seeking to hire
E911 operators
The DeKalb County 911
Communications Department is
seeking qualified applicants to join its
communications team. Candidates can
apply for E911 communication officer I
positions through May 31.
Applicants must complete and
submit the online application listed in
the “job opportunities” section on the
county website deKalbcountyga.gov.
Candidates must be at least 18 years
of age, U.S. citizen and hold a high
Applicants must pass computer skills
test (keyboarding, data entry, listening
and prioritization) and undergo a
background investigation and complete
a physical examination. The salary
range is $34,364 to $51,713, with
benefits including group insurance, a
competitive pension plan, paid vacation
plan and opportunities for career
advancement.
For more information, call the
DeKalb County Police Department
Background and Recruiting Unit at (770)
724-7445.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, May 4, 2018 • Page 4

Police takes hard stance DeKalb officials

offer second chance
on mental health issues The department also plans to have two
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
job. We’re not always like how
we’re portrayed in the media.
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN We do have a compassionate
“lunch and learn” events this year. The events side,” Berkowitz said. “We do
horace@dekalbchamp.com will incorporate mental health professionals, For a few residents, the understand that everyone
mental illness sufferers and their families and inaugural DeKalb County Job goes through some kind of
DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) police officers. Fair and Record Restriction challenge in life.”
officials said a positive, trusting relationship “We want to all sit down and get a Summit was an opportunity Rev. Elliott Robinson, a
between community and police officers is conversation started. When you eat together for a second chance. DeKalb County resident for
imperative. you can learn from each other,” Porter said. On April 21, several DeKalb 16 years, said planning the
Part of building that trust is addressing the “The officers can understand the side of the County law enforcement event together took almost
stigma of mental health and mental illness, family and the family can see the side of the agencies partnered with Saint two years.
said DKPD Assistant Chief Sonya Porter. officers.”   Philip AME Church to host the Robinson said the job and
May is national Mental Health Awareness A former DeKalb County officer was at the event. record restriction summit was
Month and according to the National Alliance center of a national debate focused on race The summit allowed something the community
on Mental Health Illness (NAMI) one in five and mental health training. In 2015 Anthony participants who have been desperately needed.
adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness in Hill, a Black man and Air Force veteran, who arrested by DeKalb County “I got here just before
a given year. was shot and killed by then-officer Robert Police Department or the 8 a.m. and we don’t start
Porter said the department is committed Olsen. DeKalb County Sheriff’s until 10 a.m. and there were
to breaking the stigma of mental health and Hill, who served in Afghanistan and was Office, but not convicted, to already three people waiting
addressing the issue proactively. later discharged when he was diagnosed with have their record restricted on us to open.” He said. “They
“I believe that DeKalb County Police bipolar disorder, was shot and killed while from public view. knew this was an opportunity
Department is trying to be proactive in naked in the Heights at Chamblee Apartment According to DeKalb for them to move forward.
addressing this issue and taking care of our Complex. Some say Hill was having a mental officials, having a restricted People want to know that
citizens and our police. If we can do that at the health challenge episode at the time of the record could improve the community cares about
same time we will be victorious,” Porter said. shooting. access to job and other them. We’re looking for ways
Last year DKPD and DeKalb County CEO A trial for Olsen is scheduled for May 21. opportunities such as to help.”
Michael Thurmond partnered to create a According to Porter, 75 to 77 percent of housing and finance. Saint Philip members
mental health roundtable after Thurmond DeKalb County officers are trained in crisis “This gives people a said they may plan to have a
met with family members of Quintas Harris, a intervention. second chance. Everybody similar event next year.
veteran with mental illness who was shot and Porter said it’s also important for the was given a second chance Donna Coles, president
killed by DeKalb County Police after he shot at department to ensure its officers deal with any at some point and everyone of career resource ministry
an officer. mental health issues they may have. deserves that,” said DeKalb at Saint Philip, said she was
Porter oversees the roundtable committee, “Everybody is impacted by mental health County Marshal Richard happy community members
which has more than two dozen local in some kind of way. We need to take care Berkowitz. “This gives people had a chance to improve their
mental health experts to discuss how to de- of our officers’ mental health as well. The the opportunity to get lives.  
escalate confrontations and develop training better the officers are, [mentally], the better their record [restricted] and “The whole idea behind
recommendations for county police officers. the community will be,” Porter said. “Our possibly go out and get a job. this was to assist people who
Porter said there are six sub committees relationship with the community is more than In some cases, their criminal have criminal offenses on
focused on how the department and important. It’s essential.” history has precluded them their records,” Coles said. “We
community can move forward. from getting a job.” often encounter people who
Berkowitz said its are having trouble finding
important for community jobs. You’d be surprised how
members to see law people can have something
Clarkston receives funding for walk campaign enforcement officials helping
those in need.
happen as long as 20 or 30
years ago and they have no
existing greenspace. Officials within a 10-minute walk (or “I think this shows the idea it was on their record.”
BY CARLA PARKER said the grant will help half-mile) of a high-quality compassionate side of our
carla@dekalbchamp.com strengthen these efforts and park or green space, city
provide access to a variety of officials said. A bipartisan
Clarkston will receive tools and resources, including group of nearly 200 mayors
a $40,000 grant for the The Trust for Public Land Park have joined this effort,
10-Minute Walk campaign.
The city announced
Serve and Parkology and
the Urban Land Institute’s
which will require major
advances in park finance
Bryan Armstead named
April 27 that the National
Recreation and Park
advisory services.
“Clarkston is focused on
and construction; zoning
changes to encourage park Avondale Estates public
Association (NRPA) selected
the city to be one of 12
recipients of the grant, which
creating a park system that
can be a welcoming and
development; embedding
this goal into city park’s works director
compassionate environment master plans; the expansion
will be used to support for all residents and visitors of “joint use” agreements that Bryan Armstead, who previously served as interim
city planning efforts that wherein each open space open school playgrounds, public works director, is now the official director for
help increase access to can become a venue where tracks, and gyms for public Avondale Estates public works department, the city
high-quality parks within a individuals from all nations, use after hours and on announced April 23.
10-minute walk. religions and races can weekends; and other Armstead served as interim director for several months,
City officials said 71 congregate,” Clarkston Mayor innovations. according to the city. He worked for the city for several
percent of residents live Ted Terry said in a released NRPA president and CEO years serving in many capacities, including serving as
within a 10-minute walk statement. Barbara Tulipane said in public works director. After a brief absence, he returned to
of a park. The city plans to The 10-Minute Walk a released statement that the city in 2017 as the public works supervisor.
increase that percentage by campaign, which was the NRPA believes everyone “The city means so much to me,” Armstead said. “Being
exploring the feasibility of launched in 2017, establishes deserves a great park. able to put a smile on people’s faces with a service we
providing a system of trails the goal that everyone in “That’s why we’re proud provide or a decision we make is an important part of the
along Peachtree Creek that the United States should live to help lead this effort [of ] job. With 19 employees to serve the city’s residents, we
will expand and connect may not be the biggest, but we can be the best.”
SEE CLARKSTON ON PAGE 10
OPINION
Viral video underscores bias in America
Millions of people have
watched the video of two
Black men getting arrested
at a Starbuck’s coffee shop in
Philadelphia while waiting to
meet a colleague for a business
meeting.
According to reports one man
asked to use the restroom but
was denied because he hadn’t
made a purchase. The manager
reportedly called police and said
the men were trespassing and
when police arrived they were
handcuffed and arrested.
On the viral video, the men
were shown acting calmly and
asking questions quietly as other
customers repeatedly inquired
what they did wrong.
Outraged customers and
observers have lambasted
Starbucks, some people are
boycotting the coffee company
Gale Horton Gay
fastgale@hotmail.com
and Starbucks announced it
plans to shut down 8,000 stores
on May 29 for racial bias training
of staff. The company’s CEO
immediately publicly apologized,
saying the incident should never
have happened and is not in
keeping with company policy or
philosophy. He and the men have
had a private meeting.
Perhaps this humiliating
situation will make people who
are blind to present-day racism
and bias a little more aware of
what segments of society face
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018 • Page 5
every day. In big and little ways,
people who are Black, Brown or
are other marginalized individuals
are shown discriminated against
and disrespected. Sometimes it’s
slow service or no service, other
times it’s being spoken to in a
rude manner or not being told
of options or specials. Bias can
translate into being rushed along,
being charged more, being lied
to, being selectively scrutinized
by security. The message is
perfectly loud and clear—you
aren’t worthy of respect, you
aren’t welcome here.
Most times these everyday
occurrences don’t make
headlines and the people at the
receiving end of the treatment
have learned to ignore it and
or have a few choice words of
their own. Other times more
serious pushback happens and
an incident possibly involving
the police may occur. Usually the
persons on the receiving end of
the bad treatment are made to
feel that they did something to
deserve being treated this way
or they misinterpreted the words
or actions or they simply over-
reacted. They know better.
The Starbuck’s incident
occurred not due to company
culture but due to the thinking,
attitude and actions of one
individual—the store manager,
who has since reportedly
resigned. This individual
apparently felt he was entitled—
whether due to his position, race,
background, experiences—to
treat individuals in this way.
Unfortunately he’s not alone in
holding these views and using a
position of power to carry out his
personal agenda.
OPINION
Fresh take on the mistake on the lake
This just in…“Beverly Hills 90210,
Cleveland Browns 3,” Canadian
comedian Colin Mochrie, during
an appearance on “Whose Line Is It
Anyway?”
Like legendary comedian
Rodney Dangerfield, Cleveland,
Ohio, has long struggled to regain
bygone days of prominence, as
well as to simply retain respect.
Reputations tend to lead or lag
reality, and though documented
improvements to Ohio’s second
largest city are legion, nagging
nicknames such as the “Mistake
on the Lake” and remembrances
of the burning Cuyahoga River
which traverses Cuyahoga County
still linger.
But while on a recent
revisit and scouting trip to this
midwestern cross between
Chicago and Philadelphia, I began
forming a fresh take on this
working burg.
Cleveland lies along the shores
of Lake Erie, and its development
as a manufacturing town is in
evidence by the rail and shipping
lines dotting the shorelines, as
well as its proximity to nearby
Detroit and the northern markets
of Canada. While Cincinnati to the
south, at the mouth of the Ohio
River is called the Queen City, and
even viewed by many midwestern
natives as a “southern city” as it
wraps around Kentucky, it has
little in common with the burg on
Ohio’s northern border that began
its climb to prominence following
completion of the Ohio and Erie
canals, though both cities have
struggling Major League Baseball
and NFL franchises.
The Cleveland Indians were
once owned by comedian
Bob Hope, who often used
their troubled win-loss ratio
as material for his act. And like
Hope, Cleveland is also filled
with transplants and many of the
town’s nearly 400,000 current
residents came there from
somewhere else.
FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018 • Page 6
1998, Voinovich, still a champion for months of each year often enough
‘One Man’s Cleveland, was elected to the first to experience ice fishing, lake effect
Opinion’ of two terms in the U.S. Senate. He snow while driving, and frost bite
chose to retire in 2010, as a third from some of the most biting winds
Bill Crane term loomed, and he passed away I have ever experienced.
in his native Cleveland in 2016, I think I’ll stay a son of the
bill.csicrane@gmail.com
actively engaged in plans to host South. But, if you do make it north
the GOP National Convention later to Cleveland, at least check out
But this town is on the that year. its public square, a museum and
upswing. You have likely already Travel is one of my favorite steak house or two—and if casinos
heard of the famed Cleveland hobbies, and while I particularly aren’t your thing—there is a Titled
Clinic, the Rock n’ Roll Hall of enjoy Latin America and Asia, I Kilt just across the street for those
Fame, or possibly the Flats, made a point, starting in my 20s, of us in the mood for some Celtic
down along the East and West to visit and spend some time, atmosphere. Ask for Brittany with
banks of that aforementioned whenever work or leisure travel the freckles. Cheers.
once-flaming river. The city allowed, in most every major
now has its own aquarium in American city.  Bill Crane also serves as a political
a reclaimed power plant and Cleveland anchors the 15th analyst and commentator for Channel
many long-abandoned historic largest metropolitan statistical 2’s Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk
edifices are being restored and area, along with Akron/Canton, 750 and now 95.5 FM, as well as a
repopulated. The Terminal Tower, Ohio. Though I try to generally columnist for The Champion, DeKalb
which serves as the center of stay south of the Mason-Dixon line Free Press and Georgia Trend. Crane
the city’s public square, is now during the harsh winter months, I is a DeKalb native and business owner,
almost fully occupied with have been in Green Bay, Wisconsin living in Scottdale. You can reach
tenants including a Ritz-Carlton, during a blizzard and places like him or comment on a column at bill.
Renaissance Hotel, Jack’s Casino Cleveland during those “wrong” csicrane@gmail.com.
and other Class-A office tenants
atop the RTA subway and rail
hub. Playhouse Square, Fourth
Street Restaurant Row and several
other area entertainment districts
now adorn a once forlorn and
forgotten downtown. 
The city’s turnaround was
begun in earnest by Cleveland
native and former Mayor George
Voinovich with his election
ousting incumbent Mayor Dennis
Kucinich in 1979. Voinovich rallied
the business community, and
though the mayor’s office is non-
partisan, Voinovich was a long-
time Republican who lobbied
the Reagan and later Bush
administrations and Congress
for help rebuilding Cleveland’s
deteriorating infrastructure.
Voinovich was also an innovator
in the use of tax credits to serve
as catalyst for redevelopment of
challenged areas. His success in
Cleveland was seen across the
state and became his springboard
to election as a two-term Ohio
governor beginning in 1990.  In
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, May 4, 2018 • Page 7

Will DeKalb complete sewer

assessments on time?
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
In June 2020, the consent
decree DeKalb County signed
with the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and
the Georgia Environmental
Protection Division (EPD) will
expire.
Before the expiration date,
DeKalb County officials must
fulfill certain obligations such
as clean, repair, enlarge and
maintain its sanitary sewer
pipes so sewer overflows are
reduced and eliminated.
The president of the South
River Watershed Alliance
(SRWA) said DeKalb County
won’t be able to complete one
of its tasks before the deadline
ends.
In an interview with
The Champion, Jacqueline
Echols, president of the
SRWA, said DeKalb County
won’t complete its sewer
assessments program by June
of 2020.
“I’m not adversaries with
DeKalb County. That’s not my
intention. My only concern
is that we do the right thing.
This is about protecting the
environment,” Echols said.
Echols said she was told
by a “reliable source” that the
sewer assessment program is
31 percent complete.     DeKalb County officials and
“With such a small
percentage of the priority
sewer area completed, it is
not possible to complete this
requirement by June 2020,”
Echols said in a letter to the
EPA and EPD.
The Priority Sewer
Assessment and
Rehabilitation Program is a
requirement of the consent
decree that requires the
county to “provide for the
identification, delineation,
assessment, prioritization, and
rehabilitation of Priority Areas.”
DeKalb County officials
held a public meeting prior
to a board of commissioners
meeting to discuss consent
decree updates.
According to the county,
DeKalb fell behind on its
consent decree obligations
due to failing to address
high personnel turnover
and having seven different
watershed directors over a 10-
year period.
DeKalb had emerged as an
urbanized juggernaut, but county
departments were mired in post-
World War II operational mindsets.
DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond
The county also failed
to properly classify sanitary
sewer overflows and failed to
develop or continue critical
DeKalb County officials say they are working to fulfill the obligations of the consent decree which ends June
2020.
maintenance contracts.
“The mass turnover of
[personnel] exposed the
absence of a discreet but
critical fail-safe. Written
standard operating
procedures were all but
nonexistent. DeKalb had
emerged as an urbanized
juggernaut, but county
departments were mired in
post-World War II operational
mindsets. Ground zero in this
public debacle was the much-
maligned Department of
Watershed Management,” said
DeKalb County CEO Michael
Thurmond in an opinion
piece for the Atlanta Journal
Constitution.
The Champion contacted
asked what the approximate
level of completion for
the Priority Areas Sewer
Assessment and Rehabilitation
Program is.
County officials responded,
“In 2017, critical positions
were filled, nearly 100 percent
of all priority pipes were
assessed and $28 million was
invested in sewer upgrades.
The county cleaned 220 miles
of sewers, removed 5.1 tons
of debris, completed 1,821
stream crossing inspections,
replaced 3,000 manhole
covers, held the first consent
decree public update and
hosted 280 other events.”
Echols said the county will
not tell her a percentage of
completion for the program.
“You never get a definitive
answer from them,” Echols
said. “They use words like
‘substantially’ complete.
If you’re looking for a
percentage, it’s not going to
happen.”

Brookhaven renews partnership with Park Pride

BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
At its April 24 meeting, the
Brookhaven City Council approved
an ordinance that allows for the
appropriation of $19,540 for the
purchase of services from Park
Pride Inc. The move reestablishes a
relationship between the Brookhaven
community and Park Pride that
ended in 2012 with Brookhaven’s
incorporation.
“I am thrilled that Brookhaven
has re-engaged with Park Pride.
Civic engagement and community
partnerships like this are key to
making Brookhaven’s parks the
best they can be,” Brookhaven
councilmember Linley Jones said.
As part of the agreement, Park
Pride will expand the footprint of its
Friends of the Park Program, allowing
members of Friends of Brookhaven
Parks to access services such as grant
matching, park planning assistance,
community garden assistance and
fundraising support.
“We’re thrilled to have been invited
back to Brookhaven and have the
opportunity to engage with and
serve the parks and neighbors of this
community,” Park Pride executive
director Michael Halicki said. “Our
team is ready to dive into this work,
and we know that there is an equally
eager constituent of greenspace
enthusiasts prepared to make positive
changes happen for parks.”
According to its website, Park Pride
is a nonprofit organization founded
in 1989 to engage communities in
their neighborhood parks. In 2017,
more than 7,200 Park Pride volunteers
worked more than 23,000 hours in
parks and on trails in Atlanta and
DeKalb County.
Prior to Brookhaven’s incorporation
in 2012, Park Pride provided support
to the community’s parks, according
to Brookhaven Parks and Recreation
director Brian Borden. In the six years
since its incorporation, Brookhaven
established its Parks and Recreation
Coalition to coordinate between its
Friends of Park groups.
“Members of Brookhaven’s Friends
of the Park groups are extremely
dedicated to their parks,” said
Ayanna Williams, manager of Park
Pride’s Friends of the Park Program.
“There was, and there still exists
today, a deep understanding of and
appreciation for the benefits that well-
cared for parks and greenspaces bring
to communities.”
According to Williams, Park Pride
provides a number of fiscal services,
including accepting donations and
filing taxes.
“Having a partner like Park Pride,
with the knowledge and a proven
track record of success that they
possess, is a huge win for us in
Brookhaven,” Borden said.  “This gives
us more depth, so we can provide an
even better recreation experience for
our parks patrons.”
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, May 4, 2018 • Page 8

Chamblee Fun Mud

Run about getting
muddy for a good cause
Educational Foundation,
BY DEREK SMITH which serves as a source for Runners navigate mud obstacles during the 2018 Chamblee Fun Mud Run April 28 at Keswick Park in Chamblee.
derek@dekalbchamp.com teachers to get what they Photos by Derek Smith.
need for their classrooms.
“It’s a really huge event,”
Nearly 700 runners
CMS teacher and mud run
descended on Chamblee
volunteer Greg Valley said.
April 28 for the 2018 Fun
“Our school community really
Mud Run to raise money for
gets into it.”
Chamblee Middle School
Through the years, the
(CMS) Education Foundation.
funds from the event have
According to its organizers,
been used to purchase
the Fun Mud Run, now in its
items such as new iPads and
fourth year, isn’t a normal
Chromebooks for classrooms
fundraiser.
and a new floor scrubber for
“It’s a completely different
the CMS cleaning staff.
event,” race organizer
The event attracts a variety
Karen Lupton said. “It’s a
of volunteers, including
little more goofy; it’s more
members of the Chamblee
family-oriented. There’s not a
Police Department, DeKalb
competitiveness about it; it’s
County Fire Rescue and the
just ‘come here, get muddy,
DeKalb County Fire Rescue
have fun and raise money for
Explorer Program.
the school.’”
The explorer program,
The 2.5-mile obstacle
consisting of DeKalb youth
course in and around
from ages 14 to 18, aids
Chamblee’s Keswick Park
with the event, helping
area was complete with tires,
runners who may have
ropes, a fire hose and plenty
trouble with the various
of mud.
obstacles, according to
“We’ve done it probably
Explorer Program Coordinator
three or four years, and every
Annette Haygood.
year it gets a little bit better,”
The Explorers are also
said runner Jessica Shannon,
trained in first aid and CPR.
who participated with her son
“We’re always on call, just
and daughter. “You have to be
like firefighters,” Haygood
a really good sport, because
said.
you truly are a total mess
Though awards are given
when its over, but it’s a great
for placing in a variety of
cause.”
categories, some participants
Shannon said her
care more about getting
daughter Kennedy is now
dirty. Throughout the course,
in eighth grade at CMS, so
several participants stopped
she benefits from the event’s
at the muddier obstacles to
fundraising, but when they
laugh and roll around in the
first ran in 2015, it was more
mud.
about the mud.
Lilly Nicaragua-Lynen,
“When we first started
who placed first in the female
doing it, our kids weren’t at
division, said though she
the middle school, so it wasn’t
was giving the race her all,
like we were raising money
winning wasn’t the best part.
for our kids, but the fact that
“I think just running with
they got to crawl through the
friends and having fun with it
mud felt like a lot of fun,” she
was my favorite part,” she said.
said.
Rachel Runsick, who
Through its four years,
placed second, agreed.
the mud run has raised more
“I liked doing belly flops in
than $100,000 for the CMS
the mud,” she said.
 DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, May 4, 2018 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

Decatur and Stone Mountain members of the sorority Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. held a voters education event
to learn about early voting for residents of DeKalb County.

DeKalb County animal shelters held a fee-waived adoption event April

27 through 29. Photo by Lifeline Animal Project.

Tucker Mayor Frank Auman swore in DeKalb County police officers from the Tucker Precinct, authorizing
them to uphold the ordinances of Tucker under the terms of the new intergovernmental agreement with
DeKalb County.

Decatur Police officer Keck visits Iwag on College Avenue in Decatur to

support the organization’s adoption event. Photo by Decatur Police. Brookhaven Girl Scout Troop #16502 took matters into their own hands at the Brookhaven City Council
meeting, as they gaveled in the session and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Have you created programming you’d like to air on TV?

Do you have an interest in Public Access TV in DeKalb County?
Submit your show to DeKalb County’s Public Access channel, DeKalb 25.
Drop off DVD or USB copies to the Manuel J. Maloof Center at
1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030, or upload your content via the internet.

(404) 371-2325 DeKalb25@outlook.com DeKalb25.com

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, May 4, 2018 • Page 10

Trouble finding
Confederate monument a
new home
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com

Some DeKalb County officials and residents said

the Confederate monument in downtown Decatur
has overstayed its welcome. The only problem now is
where to put it.
After months of protests and debates, DeKalb
County commissioners voted that the Confederate
monument could be moved to another location. But
due to state laws, finding the right place for it has
proved to be difficult.
In January, DeKalb County sought proposals on
where to place the monument.
According to county attorney O.V. Brantley, the
county is allowed to move the monument within the Tucker is partnering with the Mercer University College of Pharmacy’s National Community Pharmacist
Association to conduct free health screenings.
parameters of state law.

Tucker to host free heath screening

“State law authorizes the county to relocate the
monument to another site where it would remain
visibly displayed or contextualize the monument
with explanatory signage that puts the monument in
historical context,” Brantley said. BY CARLA PARKER Szubski said the organization vaccine, and also learn about
According to state law OCCG 50-3-1 (b) (1),  it has a portable eye screening cervical cancer and how to
is unlawful to “mutilate, deface, defile, or abuse carla@dekalbchamp.com machine that they bring to prevent it.”
contemptuously” or for local governments to “remove Tucker will host its first events. Szubski said she hopes the
or conceal from display…for the purpose of preventing free health screening May 7 at “They have something screenings lead to residents
the visible display.” Tucker Recreation Center. called the Lighthouse out in being more cognizant of their
The Champion received two formal suggestions that The event kicks off the Chamblee, where if people health.
were submitted to county officials since February. city’s week of “Tucker Days” in need find out they need “I think in order to be a
Jennifer Keaton, an attorney working in Marietta, activities, which leads up glasses, but they can’t afford successful and growing city
submitted a proposal suggesting the monument be to “Tucker Day” on May 12. them they can go to the we need healthy people,” she
moved to the Allatoona Pass Battlefield Park. Sonja Szubski, the city- Lighthouse, which is run said. “So, it behooves us as a
“It may be worth exploring placement of this community connector, said by the Lions, and they can government to help people.
memorial within or near the memorial at the Allatoona the event is a way to connect get affordable glasses and “Part of our screening
Battlefield,” Keaton wrote. “Certainly, the memorial the city government with its hearing aids, ” she said. event is going to be education
would be on public display there and ceiling heights residents. Staff from Sage Dental as well, ” she added. “[The
would not be a concern. As to historical relevance, “I felt that a health will be on hand to provide doctors] can point people in
there’s space there to tell the rest of the story of the fall screening event is a great information on oral health, the direction of clinics that
out of the Civil War decades later.” way to reach out to a larger and the city is also partnering can do the tests and make
DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader said the segment of our population with the Spirit Foundation, sure everyone is healthy. It’s
county still plans to do something with the monument. within Tucker, and we thought which is run by a local doctor, a combo of a screening and
Rader said the monument should be removed from it would be a great kick-off Dr. Lisa Flowers. education event. My hope is
that “place of honor.” event for our ‘Tucker Days’ “They do a lot of education to do this quarterly and grow
Barry Colbaugh suggested the county leave week leading up to Tucker and outreach on cervical it. Hopefully we can grow
the monument where it is and give the monument Day,” she said. cancer, ” she said. “They’re this and help educate our
historical context. The city is partnering with going to have education citizens and our surrounding
Colbaugh suggested turning the green space on the Mercer University College materials. They can also run communities to take control
either side of the monument into a DeKalb County of Pharmacy’s National people through written tests of their health.”
veterans memorial park. On the other side would be Community Pharmacist to educate about the HPV
a slave memorial wall listing all of the known slaves in Association to have students
DeKalb County. conduct some of the
“My proposal will turn the area into a veterans
CLARKSTON
screenings. Szubski said they
memorial honoring all DeKalb veterans and
memorialize the slaves from DeKalb,” Colbaugh
will start small, proving simple Continued From Page 1A
screenings, such as blood
wrote. “It will enhance the history of the area and the pressure. providing cities with the tools and resources necessary to
monument which is already part of the national and “I just secured a donation make the 10-minute walk goal a reality,” she said.
state historic registry. Please consider this proposal from a local pharmacy in Clarkston officials said studies show that high-quality
that will only enhance the monument and preserve Tucker, Palliative Pharmacy parks provide a wide range of benefits, including physical
even more of DeKalb’s history.” Solutions,” she said. “They and mental health benefits, to urban residents and cities
Rader said the county got a lot of general donated testing kits for blood themselves.
suggestions about what to do with the monument, glucose and cholesterol.” “We are excited to collaborate with the Clarkston
such as adding context or putting it in a museum. He The city is also partnering community to develop and implement a park planning
expects the commission to incorporate those ideas with the Tucker LaVista Lions strategy that provides park access to each of their residents,”
into its policy decision. Club, which will provide said George Dusenbury, executive director of The Trust for
vision and hearing screenings. Public Land in Georgia.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018 • Page 11

STEM Continued From Page 1

provide exposure to the type of
science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) education Bah
would later receive in the United
States, he did have something not
a lot of children in Swaziland or
Mozambique had—a PlayStation
Portable (PSP). While the video
game device could have served as
a distraction from his education,
according to Bah, he and his
friends weren’t interested in its
intended use.
“We kind of dissected my PSP
once and we weren’t able to put
it back together,” Bah told The
Champion. “That experience alone
led to my interest in the hardware
and software that supported those
electronics.”
In 2013, Bah moved to the
United States, where access to
electronics and computers far
more advanced than the PSP
reinforced his interest in STEM. He
entered Stephenson High School,
where he began taking advanced
placement (AP) courses.
“When I started taking classes
in the AP program, I had no idea
what the program was about,” Bah
said. “They didn’t have AP classes
back home.”
He took a variety of AP STEM
courses through his two years
of United States high school
education, including AP physics
at Fernbank Science Center. His
AP education allowed him to
enter Georgia Perimeter College a
semester early. There, he said, his
interest in STEM intensified.
“In college, you have access
to all the tools and resources you
need,” Bah said. “All of that just
reinforces your interest in your
field, knowing that you have all of
these things to support you.”
According to Taylor Shapero, a
professor of computer science and
engineering, Bah flourished when
he entered Georgia Perimeter.
“Amadou spends his days
managing his 17-credit course
load, tutoring across almost
all STEM disciplines, providing
supplemental instruction for
calculous and engineering
courses, developing and running Georgia Perimeter College Vice Provost Peter Lyons (left) gives Amadou Bah a medal signi-
experiments for the Clarkston fying Bah’s reception of the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship April 18. Photo by Derek Smith
Computing and Engineering Club
and participating in the Math private scholarship in the country, Georgia.
Club and various STEM student providing $40,000 per year for up He said he’ll use the scholarship
competitions,” Shapero said. to three years. to continue his education at either
After three years of study at “Amadou Bah is one of the Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon or
Georgia Perimeter, Bah received strongest and most deserving MIT.
three awards at the school’s students we will see come “I feel great excitement to be
annual Honors Day April 18. He out of Perimeter College this a part of a group of such talented
was awarded the 2018 academic decade,” Shapero wrote in her scholars,” Bah said upon receiving
honor in engineering, the 2018 letter recommending Bah for the the honor. “Today has been a life-
Student Leadership Excellence scholarship. changing day.”
award and was one of 47 students Nationwide, 2,500 students
nationally to receive the Jack Kent applied for the scholarship. Bah
Cooke Scholarship—the largest was the only 2018 recipient in

MARTA Continued From Page 1

such as the two the four officers
experienced.
“But, every officer receives that
training in the police academy before
they ever hit the street, and MARTA
police train bi-annually on the CPR and
AED program,” Lauda said.
Lauda said there are AEDs in every
patrol vehicle, at the precincts, as
well in some of the maintenance and
administrative facilities around MARTA.
“So right now, it’s safe to say there
are well over 100 AEDs throughout the
authority,” he said.
The officers have not been contacted
by the families of the two men. Softley
said he doesn’t consider himself a hero.
“No, I think it’s just doing the job that
we normally do, that we were trained
to do,” he said. “When you do put what
you’ve learned into action to help
someone, that makes you feel good, but I
don’t consider myself a hero.”

#ItsInTheChampion • TheChampionNewspaper.com

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BUSINESS
Small businesses have big opportunities
KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
When Super Bowl XIII
comes to Atlanta in February
2019 local vendors will be
on hand to provide a wide
variety of goods and services.
Small business owners
who want to be part of this
rare opportunity should
prepare now, according to
Reggie Pharms, certification
manager of Georgia Minority
Supplier Development
Council, who is on the
advisory board for Super Bowl
XIII.
Pharms was a speaker
at the April 24 meeting of
the South DeKalb Business
Association, where the theme
was certification. “There’s not
much time left,” he said. “The
deadline for getting on the
list of possible vendors is May
15. They need such services
as lighting, marketing,
catering and others, but you
have to be on the list. If you
have some of the capacity to
provide what they need but
not all of it, why not partner
with someone?” he advised.
“Let go of your pride. When
you go after the big fish, they
will only be interested in you
if you can deliver.”
Another speaker, Felton
B. Williams, procurement
projects manager for DeKalb
County Purchasing and
Contracting Department,
said, “It’s a new day and a
new way in DeKalb County,”
explaining that there are
new opportunities for small
businesses to provide goods
and services for the county
and an updated website
makes it easier than ever
for such businesses to learn
what’s needed and apply to
be vendors.
“It’s easier to be
considered, but there are no
guarantees in procurement,
only opportunities. Just
as you don’t go with the
first person who knocks on
your door when you need
something done at your
house, we look for reliable
contractors who can deliver
what we need—and that’s not
necessarily the lowest bidder,”
he said, adding that there’s an
old trick in which contractors
bid a job too low so they will
be selected, then make up the
difference by adding lots of
change orders.
“We know that trick and
we don’t fall for it. We know
what a project should cost. If
a contractor bids significantly
below that range, we know
something is wrong. Either
he doesn’t know what he’s
doing or he’s trying to trick
us,” Williams said.
The county executive
said business owners should
not underestimate the
value of a good reputation.
“Every time you complete
a job competently, on time,
with few problems and
demonstrate a strong work
ethic, you improve the odds
that you will be considered
next time.”
One of the most important
things a company seeking
business can do is show up
for presentations, Williams
said. “When we invite
businesses to come talk about
what they can do, you should
make every effort to be
there. If you can’t come, send
someone, but be sure you
send someone who knows
what he or she is talking
about and will say what you
would say if you were there.
Showing up allows us to
know you and shows us that
you are serious.”
Companies must be in
business for more than a year
and meet a number of other
qualifications before they
are eligible to be certified,”
according to Williams. “You
don’t have to be certified to
do business with the county,
but it’s certainly useful in
letting us know that you
can deliver what we need.
If we hire a company to fix
potholes, we don’t expect
them to come back to us with
reasons they couldn’t get the
job done; we expect them to
finish the work. Otherwise
we have to hire someone else
and that costs the taxpayers
money.”
Williams advised small
companies to partner with
large, established businesses
when they bid for large jobs.
He explained that on such
jobs the county requires large
businesses to include small
ones as subcontractors. “The
split may be 80 percent for
the large company and 20
DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, May 4, 2018 • Page 13
only 5 percent, that can be a
significant piece of business
for you.”
Once a small business is
thriving and being selected
for major jobs, Williams said,
the owners should not forget
to “pay it forward.”
“Just as someone helped
you as you were getting
established, you should
be sure to bring someone
else with you. If you know
of a small capable business
that’s just getting started,
help them get some work.
Felton B. Williams Reggie Pharms It’s all about building a
strong business community,”
Williams advised.
percent for the smaller one, millions of dollars, 20 percent
but when you’re talking about is large. Even if your part is
M E T R O P O L I TA N AT L A N TA R A P I D T R A N S I T A U T H O R I T Y
Notice of Public Hearings
May 14, 15 & 16, 2018
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid
Transit Authority will hold public hearings for the purpose of considering the
Proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Operating and Capital Budgets
and
Proposed Bus Service Modifications for August 18, 2018
for the following bus routes:
Route 6: Clifton Road / Emory; Route 9: East Atlanta / Tilson Road / Candler Road Route
15: Candler Road / South DeKalb; Route 16: North Highland Avenue Route 21:
Memorial Drive; Route 25: Peachtree Industrial Boulevard / Johnson Ferry Road; Route
27: Cheshire Bridge Road; Route 30: LaVista Road; Route 32: Bouldercrest; Route 36:
North Decatur Road / Virginia Highland; Route 49: McDonough Boulevard; Route 74:
Flat Shoals; Route 107: Glenwood;Route 110: Peachtree Road/Buckhead; Route 133
(formerly Route 33): Shallowford Road; Route 195: Forest Parkway; Route 809:
(formerly Route 109) Monroe Drive / Boulevard; New Route 825: Johnson Ferry Road;
New Route 832: Grant Park; Route 899 (formerly Route 99): Old Fourth Ward
All route information and comment forms are available at www.itsmarta.com.
Mon., May 14, 2018 Tues., May 15, 2018 Wed., May 16, 2018
Fulton County Government
Clayton County DeKalb Maloof
Center - Assembly Hall
Board Room Auditorium
141 Pryor Street 1300 Commerce Drive
112 Smith Street Atlanta, GA 30303
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Decatur, GA 30030
Community Exchange:
Community Exchange: Community Exchange:
6-7 P.M. 6-7 P.M.
6-7 P.M. HEARING: 7 P.M.
HEARING: 7 P.M.
HEARING: 7 P.M.
Riding MARTA: Riding MARTA: Walk one block
Riding MARTA: Route 193 Bus Routes 32, 42 and 55
west of Decatur Rail Station
Copies of the proposed Bus Service Modifications and Fiscal Year 2019 Operating and Capital Budget will also
be available for public viewing at MARTA’s Headquarters Office of External Affairs, 2424 Piedmont Road,
N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30324 during regular business hours, Mon-Fri 8:30 am to 5 pm.
For formats (FREE of charge) in accordance with the ADA and Limited English Proficiency regulations
contact, (404) 848-4037. For those patrons requiring further accommodations, information can be
obtained by calling the Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 404 848-5665.
In addition, a sign language interpreter will be available at all hearings. If you cannot attend the hearings
and want to provide comments you may: (1) leave a message at (404) 848-5299; (2) write to MARTA’s Office
of External Affairs,2424 Piedmont Road, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30324-3330; (3) complete an online Comment
Card at www.itsmarta.com; (4) or fax your comments no later than May 25, 2018 to (404) 848-4179.
All citizens of the City of Atlanta and the counties of Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton and Gwinnett whose interests
are affected by the subjects to be considered at these hearings are hereby notified and invited to appear
at said times and places and present such evidence, comment or objection as their interests require.
Jeffrey Parker, General Manager/CEO
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, May 4, 2018• Page 14

Brookhaven votes to request reconsideration

of decision to move Cross Keys High
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
The Brookhaven City
Council April 24 voted
unanimously to request that
the DeKalb County School
District (DCSD) Board of
Education reconsider its
decision to build a new Cross
Keys High School outside
of Brookhaven’s city limits,
leaving Brookhaven without a
high school.
The DCSD school board
April 16 voted 4-3 to build the
new Cross Keys High School
east of I-85 on North Druid
Hills Road—the site of the
former Briarcliff High School
that closed in 1987.
“We think it’s not really
going to be in the best
position to serve the people
of Brookhaven—the people
that need it the most—and
certainly won’t do the job
that we were intending it to
do to improve the quality of
life along the Buford Highway
corridor,” Brookhaven City
Councilmember Joe Gebbia
said.
Board of Education
member Stan Jester, who
voted against the Briarcliff
site, said on his blog that
he is concerned about the
placement across I-85 from
Brookhaven, saying it’s
“difficult, if not impossible”
to have a high school on the
opposite side of I-85 from the
community it serves.
He said he’s also
concerned about traffic
congestion, calling North
Druid Hills Road “one of the
top 10 worst congested
streets in metro Atlanta”
adding that it will only
get worse once Children’s
Hospital of Atlanta opens its
improved North Druid Hills
campus.
The three DCSD Board
of Education members who
voted no—Jester, Marshall
Orson and Jim McMahan—
represent districts that
include the Cross Keys
community.
“We think that it is
definitely to the advantage
of the students—and that’s
where the primary concern
has to be­—that this high
school be placed within
a cluster adjacent to [the
current] Cross Keys High
School, which will then be
converted into a middle
school, and right across the
street is the elementary
school,” Gebbia said.
According to the school
district, Education Special
Purpose Local Option Sales
Tax V (E-SPLOST V)—the
voter-approved measure
that allowed for the funding
of a new Cross Keys High
School—stated on its project
list that the new school was to
be built on the Briarcliff site or
a cost-neutral alternative site.
None of the reviewed
sites outside of Briarcliff were
cost neutral, according to the
school district. Additionally,
district officials were
concerned that building the
school along Buford Highway
would require the relocation
of apartment units.
“I think there’s a way to get
this done. I know there’s a way
to get this done,” Brookhaven
mayor John Ernst said. “We
just need a willing partner in
the school system to do it…I
believe we can help them in
any which way to mitigate
the economics and the social
justice of this.”
The resolution adopted
by the Brookhaven City
Council directs city manager
Christian Sigman to engage
DCSD superintendent
Stephen Green in a dialogue
focused on collaborating on
the construction of a new
Brookhaven High School
along Buford Highway. It
also directs the Brookhaven
Development Authority to
“assess any and all available
tools to assist in efforts to
retain a public high school
within the city of Brookhaven.”

Organizations raise funds for nonprofit

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
To bring awareness to
National Crime Victims’
Rights Week and Child
Abuse Prevention Month,
the DeKalb County solicitor
general and the Decatur
alumni chapter of Kappa
Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
hosted a toiletry drive.
In April, the organizations
collected items for nonprofit
CHRIS 180 Inc. The drive is
the second time the solicitor
general’s office has partnered
to bring goods to the
organization.
“We’re excited. We’ve had
a number of donations and it
means a lot to us because the
people who are benefiting
from this at Chris180 will use
these items, so they won’t
have to use their money.
They’re getting their start
in life,” said DeKalb Solicitor
General Donna Coleman-
Stribling.
CHRIS, which is an
acronym for creativity, honor,
respect, integrity and safety,
was founded in 1981 and
helps children in the state
foster care system who have
mental health needs.
The organization provides
counseling, shelter, adoption
services and a transition
program for youth who have
aged out of the foster care
system.
“Young people are our
community’s future, so it’s
important we help them in
any way possible,” Stribling
said.
The drive collected
toothbrushes, toothpaste,
soap, lotion, deodorant,
combs, hair brushes,
shampoo, conditioner and
bath sponges for the children.
Along with the solicitor
general, the DeKalb District
Attorney’s office, Superior
Court, State Court Probation,
Sheriff’s Office, Marshal’s
Office, DeKalb County Police
Department east and south
precincts collected items.
On May 5, the
organization will work with
teen volunteers to assemble
hygiene gift packs that go
into “welcome kits” that CHRIS
180 provides to youth when
they arrive.
“We have a tremendous
amount of support in this
effort,” Stribling said. “This is
awesome. One of our goals
in this was not just to receive
the items in the toiletry drive
but also to have individuals
understand what it means to
help someone.” “It’s always a benefit
Stribling said last year when you see people give
children assisted with but also using their hands
putting the toilet “welcome to physically put these items
kits” together. This year the together,” Stribling said. “I
items will be put together at think it’s something we can
Columbia Drive Methodist teach our children. Giving
Church. back.”
DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
1ST PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2019
Monday, May 14, 2018
TIME LOCATION
5:30 p.m. J. David Williamson Board Room
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold a public budget
hearing to solicit feedback from the public regarding the 2018-
2019 school system’s budget. FY2019 DCSD budget information
can be found on DeKalb County School System’s website at
http://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/superintendent/budget.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL THE OFFICE OF THE

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 678-676-0069.
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, May 4, 2018 • Page 15

Arabia Mountain advanced to the Sweet 16 of the Class AAAAA playoffs.

Photo by Carla Parker

Four remain in
No. 1 singles player Madison Trinh lost to Carrollton’s Sonya Ivashchenko 2-1.
baseball playoffs
BY CARLA PARKER 16. Chamblee won the first
game 10-5 and the second

Eight in the Elite Eight

carla@dekalbchamp.com
Four DeKalb County
baseball teams advanced to
the Sweet 16 of the Georgia
High School Association
game 16-3. Chamblee will
travel to Carrolton May 3 in
the next round.
Decatur defeated Lithonia
to punch their ticket to the

Eight tennis teams advance to Elite Eight state playoffs after first-round next round. Decatur won
series sweeps. the first game 10-1 and
Three of the four teams completed the series sweep
advanced in the Class AAAAA with a 5-1 win in the second
BY CARLA PARKER Paideia boys also advanced to the Elite playoffs. The Arabia Mountain game. Decatur will host
carla@dekalbchamp.com Eight in the Class Private-A playoffs. They Rams swept Riverwood 2-0 Buford in the second round
beat Darlington 3-0 in the Sweet 16 and faced at home April 27. The Rams May 3.
Wesleyan in the next round. won the first game 7-2 and In Class AAAA, the
Eight tennis teams from DeKalb County closed out the series with an defending champion Marist
remain in the state playoffs after victories in Other playoff scores 11-3 win in the second game. War Eagles beat Madison
the Sweet 16 round. Arabia Mountain will host County to advance to the
The teams advanced to the Elite Eight of Class 7A Flowery Branch May 3 in the Sweet 16. Marist won the first
the tournaments and had their matches by Boys Sweet 16. game 16-6 and the second
May 2. Scores were not available by press time. South Forsyth 3, Lakeside 0 The Chamblee Bulldogs game 4-0. The War Eagles will
In Class AAAAAA, Dunwoody boys and Tucker swept Jackson-Atlanta April travel to Cartersville May 3 for
girls advanced to the Elite Eight. Girls 27 to advance to the Sweet their second-round series.
Dunwoody defeated Harrison 3-0 in the North Gwinnett 3, Lakeside 0
Sweet 16 and took on Glynn Academy in the
next round. Tucker beat Richmond Hill 3-0 and Class 5A OTHER PLAYOFF SCORES
faced John Creek in the next round. Boys
Carrollton 3, Decatur 2 Class 7A
In Class AAAAA, both Chamblee boys and Grayson (21-11) 9, Lakeside (14-14) 1
girls advanced to the Elite Eight. The girls Grayson (21-11) 13, Lakeside (14-14) 5
defeated Carrollton 3-2 in the Sweet 16 and Class 4A Grayson wins series 2-0
faced Bainbridge in the next round. The boys Girls
defeated Woodland-Bartow 4-1 and faced Columbus 3, Druid Hills 0 Class 6A
Lakeside-Evans (15-11) 12, Tucker (17-13) 6
McIntosh in the next round. Lakeside-Evans (15-11) 12, Tucker (17-13) 2
In Class AAAA, Marist boys and girls Class 1A-Private Lakeside-Evans wins series 2-0
defeated LaGrange 3-0 and took on Northside- Girls
Columbus in the Elite Eight. St. Pius X girls Mt. Paran 3, Paideia 0 Greenbrier (22-7) 8, Stephenson (15-13-1) 0
defeated Heritage-Catoosa 3-0 in the Sweet 16 Greenbrier (22-7) 14, Stephenson (15-13-1) 1
Greenbrier wins series 2-0
and faced West Laurens in the next round.
Winder-Barrow (21-10) 3, Dunwoody (14-17) 2
Winder-Barrow (21-10) 10, Dunwoody (14-17) 5
Winder-Barrow wins series 2-0

REDUCE Class 5A
North Springs (16-14) 10, SW DeKalb (16-9) 2
North Springs (16-14) 10, SW DeKalb (16-9) 2
North Springs wins series 2-0

REUSE Class 4A
Cross Creek (17-8) 5, Druid Hills (15-13) 4
Cross Creek (17-8) 11, Druid Hills (15-13) 1
Cross Creek wins series 2-0

RECYCLE
Class 3A
Ringgold (28-5) 2, Redan (22-9) 1
Redan (22-9) 8, Ringgold (28-5) 1
Ringgold (28-5) 13, Redan (22-9) 6
Ringgold wins series 2-1

LOCAL
Clarkson points to progress during
Chamblee state-of-the-city address
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Hundreds gathered April 26 in
the Marriott Century Center to have
breakfast and hear Chamblee Mayor
Eric Clarkson deliver his annual state-
of-the-city address.
With a brief look into the city’s
history, Clarkson, who has served as
the city’s mayor since 2005, paused on
the 2008 recession.
“The hardest thing I’ve had to
do as mayor is hold on to [the city’s]
vision through the recession,” he said.
“There were a lot of pressures put on
the council and a lot of pressure put
on private property owners to try to
do something. And we held on.”
Clarkson said the experience
taught him a lesson he still applies.
“You’ve got to have a plan,” he said.
“You’ve got to stick to that plan, parcel
by parcel, block by block, year after
year.”
According to Clarkson, Chamblee
has a plan and it has stuck to it, and
it’s paying off.
Starting with the police
department, Clarkson said property
crime was down 32.6 percent
and crimes against persons were
down 28.6 percent in 2017. He said
Chamblee police officers reversed five
opioid overdoses using an emergency
treatment called Narcan. The Cop-N-
Stuff organization formed in 2017,
conducted a variety of fundraising
activities and provided outreach and
relief donations to hurricane victims
in Florida.
Eighteen contracted storm water
repair projects were completed in
2017. City sanitation disposed of
4,300 tons of household garbage
and 570 tons of recyclables. The
city contracted to pave 8.3 miles of
roadway and repair approximately
2,600 square yards of potholes. City
workers also completed three new
streetscape projects that included an
additional mile of paving.
According to Chamblee’s first
annual report, the city added 26 acres
of park land in 2017, with purchases of
land along Savoy Drive and the former
Jim Hearn Golf Range property,
bringing the city’s total park land
to more than 100 acres. More than
14,800 people attended special events
in Chamblee, including the 2017
Summer Concert Series and Taste of
Chamblee.
Clarkson said the city added 280
new businesses in 2017, including a
new Whole Foods market. The added
businesses brought more than 600
jobs, according to the annual report.
“Chamblee is en fuego [Spanish for
‘on fire’]” Clarkson said.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, May 4, 2018 • Page 16
SPORTS
St. Pius X names new athletic director
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
St. Pius X has named
Todd Mooney to be its
next athletic director, the
school announced April 30.
Mooney in the fourth
athletic director in the Mooney
school’s 60-year history. He
replaces former director Mark Kelly.
“It is my sincere honor to be joining
the St. Pius X family and extremely
humbling to be chosen to continue
building upon the tremendous
leadership, hard work, commitment and
dedication provided for by Mr. Mark
Kelly for so many years,” Mooney said
in a released statement. “I’m excited
and blessed, beyond words to begin
serving with such an amazing group of
administrators, and faculty and staff.”
Mooney has 25 years of experience
as both a coach and administrator at
both the college and high school.
“We are blessed and lucky to have
Todd come on board and share his
wide range of athletic management
experience,” St. Pius X President Chad
Barwick said. “Most importantly,
he expresses his desire to serve our
student-athletes’ needs and provide for
them a Christ-centered environment in
which to succeed.”
Previously, Mooney served as
athletic director at King’s Ridge Christian
School in Alpharetta since
2014. During that time,
he added lacrosse, while
reviving the girls’ basketball
and softball programs.
Mooney established a
Student-Athlete Advisory
Council to represent all
high school sports to mirror
student-athlete involvement
at the collegiate level,
according to St. Pius officials. He also
helped re-design the King’s Ridge
Christian Athletic Brand including
updated logos and expanded color
scheme.
“He had a great plan at the start
that showed great affection for and
knowledge of St. Pius X and has
already started translating that into
good meetings with our Pius partners,”
Barwick said. “His Christian leadership
and ability to see the big picture make
him a great fit for our Golden Lion
family. I know our community will enjoy
his perspective and his willingness to
push SPX athletics into the next five, 10,
20 years.”
Prior to his time at King’s Ridge,
Mooney spent more than 20 years in
intercollegiate athletics as a coach or
administrator at LaGrange College,
Rhodes College, Oberlin College and
Urbana University. The Westerville, Ohio,
native he his bachelor’s and master’s
degrees at Ohio University.