the DeKalb FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • VOL.

23, NO 41 • FREE

Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest and Tucker • A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS

Boys & Girls Club

gives turkeys for
Thanksgiving
BY CARLA PARKER free turkey and pie.
carla@dekalbchamp.com The club gave out more
than 200 turkeys and sweet
potato pies Nov. 8 for
Adults who picked its annual Thanksgiving
children up from the East Giveaway. The club partners
DeKalb Boys & Girls Club with local organizations
may also have picked up a and businesses to provide
The East DeKalb Boys & Girls Club gave out more than 200 turkeys and sweet potato pies for its annual Thanksgiving Giveaway.
SEE GIVEAWAY ON PAGE 6

Veterans honored
during DCSD event
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
More than 500 JROTC
cadets from DeKalb County
School District and district
officials honored local
veterans Nov. 9.
The veterans who served
in the Marine Corps, Air
Guest speaker Anthony C. Aiken, Sr., right, celebrates a plaque awarded to him. Photos by Taylor Robins
Force, Army, Coast Guard
and Navy were honored
with a specials drill and
review from the cadets at
DCSD’s Robert R. Freeman
Administrative Complex.
Cadet Lieutenant Colonel
Fusbsib Thao, of Miller
Grove High School, led
the program. Tucker High
School, Chamblee Charter
High School and Druid Hills
High School performed
drill demonstrations and
Southwest DeKalb’s High
School band performed.
Cedar Grove High School’s
A local veteran proudly shows the medal given to him and all veterans in attendance to the Nov. 9 event.
JROTC gave medals to the
veterans in attendance.
Anthony C. Aiken, Sr.
served as the guest speaker
for the event. Aiken is a
retired U.S. Army Colonel.
He began his speech by
saying, “You students are
outstanding.”
Aiken highlighted the
important role that JROTC
plays in schools and how
participating students set
the standard among their
peers.
“It’s not all about who
can dribble,” Aiken said to a
giggling crowd. “It’s not all
about chasing the women, I
did that. When I was young,
I worked because one day [I
knew that] I could become
an officer.”
Aiken talked about the
positive aspects of military
service, and also said he is
now legally blind because of
SEE VETERANS ON PAGE 6

Visit www.thechampionnewspaper.com for local, real DeKalb County news.

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 2

DECATUR

Family, community remember Chapel

Hill Middle band teacher
BY CARLA PARKER with music, fall in love with being in
band and that’s what kept them coming
carla@dekalbchamp.com to us for all of those years,” Seda added.
Brown’s passion for teaching and
Family, friends, colleagues and
music never wavered, not even after she
students—present and past—gathered
was diagnosed with cancer. She was a
Nov. 8 to say their final goodbyes to
10-year, two-month cancer survivor,
beloved Chapel Hill Middle School
according to her husband.
head band director Natalie Brown.
“A lot of people knew that she had
Brown, 57, died Oct. 31 due to
cancer and some people assume that’s
internal complications after a medical
what took her out,” he said. “It was a
procedure, according to her husband
procedure done that caused internal
Zealouis H. Brown II. Brown taught
complications and that took her away
music at Chapel Hill Middle for 25
from me. It wasn’t necessarily the
years. The Mississippi native graduated
cancer per se, it was the procedure and
cum laude with a degree in music
the results of that procedure. She was
education from Jackson State University
beating cancer.”
in Jackson, Miss.
Brown said his wife did have days
After she married in 1988, she
where she felt down and couldn’t go to
moved to Atlanta in 1989 and a few
work.
years later began her teaching career
“She would follow the doctor’s
at Chapel Hill. Brown’s husband said
orders. She went through
her first love was music and that love
[chemotherapy] and all of that in the
started at a young age with the piano.
beginning,” he said. “But she had gotten
“Her mother encouraged her and
to a point where she learned how to
kept her going, but it wasn’t much to
deal with it and still go to work because
push [her] because she loved it,” he said. Chapel Hill Middle School head band director Natalie Brown died Oct. 31 at the age of 57.
she loved what she did. It’s amazing
“She loved music. She got to the point
how she did it. She would take her
where she was the best in her high
One of her former students, Lakesia said. “Coming out of college, of course treatments and on the days she didn’t
school on flute.”
Hayes, said Brown, a mother of three, you think you’re ready for teaching, you feel like it she would stay home, but
Brown said his wife chose to attend
had a genuine motherly spirit. think you’re ready to be in the band, if she felt good enough she went [to
Jackson State because she fell in love
“She made it very clear that we were and she threw me in the fire really work].”
with the university’s marching band,
always a representation of her and [we] quickly. So, I had to experience a lot of Brown said the outpouring of love
nicknamed “The Sonic Boom of the
better not embarrass her,” Hayes said failures before I really started to learn and support he and his family have
South.”
with a laugh. “She never hesitated to exactly what I was doing, and I had a received from the community since her
“It came down to her having to
let us know she was disappointed but wonderful example in her to show me death has been amazing.
decide between [Louisiana State
also never hesitated to let us know she just how to do almost everything from “Her reach was beyond my sight,”
University] and Jackson State and she
was proud of us. She redirected us and a band director standpoint.” he said. “It’s a blessing to know that she
fell in love with that Boom like we all
celebrated us like we were her own Seda said Brown was one of the was that kind of person and that I was
did and that’s where she and I met in
children.” biggest supporters of Southwest in this thing with her.”
1978,” Brown said. “She came in as a
That mothering and nurturing spirit DeKalb’s band. Her children also played Brown said he hopes those who
freshman section leader. That’s how
was one of the qualities that Southwest in the band. knew her will look at her life as one of
good she was.”
DeKalb High School band director “She supported us [through] determination.
When she took over as head band
James Seda said he admired in Brown. encouragement. She was an incredible “I’ve often said to a few people that
director at Chapel Hill in 1993, Brown
After graduating from college, Seda spiritual person and she always knew she was a warrior—the way she dealt
said, he told his wife that she was more
worked with Brown at Chapel Hill for what to do and what to say in any with her illness, she was a warrior,”
than a teacher.
two school years (1999-2001) before situation and she always did it with a Brown said. “She loved deeply too, so
“She was a psychologist, a business
he became band director at Southwest smile,” Seda said. “She never pressured I hope [her students] will learn how
person, a CEO and she was filling a lot
DeKalb, which is the feeder school for her students to become a part of to love and how to be dedicated to
of roles under one hat,” Brown said.
Chapel Hill. anything beyond the [middle] school something and stay with it.”
“She accepted that advice from me and
Seda said Brown impacted his career band, but she always spoke of the [high Hayes said she always tells people
took off from there. It was all about the
on many levels from her vision for the school] band with such high regards to that some of her best childhood
kids [for her]. She loved what she did,
program, her relationships with the the point that [students] would want to memories are associated with the band.
and she just loved those kids and since
students and parents, her organization do it. “I’m privileged that Mrs. Brown
her passing I’ve seen evidence of how
and her delivery. “She had that nurturing spirit to played a part in that,” she said. “She will
much they loved her back.”
“She knew what she wanted,” Seda really make [the students] fall in love definitely be missed.

REDUCE • RECYCLE
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 3

Racial slur shown during recent football halftime show

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
During a Nov. 2 football
game against Brookwood
High School, Lakeside High
School athletes showed better
sportsmanship than some
students from the Gwinnett
County school.
Four members of the
Brookwood band, who play the
sousaphone, spelled the word
“coon” with their instrument
covers at the Gwinnett County
school. The covers normally
spell “Broncos,” Brookwood’s
school mascot.
“DeKalb County School
District is disappointed that
students and community
members from both schools
were exposed to insensitive,
divisive language,” DCSD
officials said in an email
statement to The Champion
Newspaper. “Racial slurs
only serve to divide our
communities. We are confident
Brookwood High School and
the Gwinnett County Public
Schools are taking the proper
steps to remedy this unfortunate
situation.” Students spell a racial slur during a Nov. 2 halftime show in Gwinnett County. (K&J Athletics Twitter)
Brookwood’s “Senior Night”
was held the same night of a junior, who carried one of the “As you all know, this is
the incident, causing the band public that the school would get
to the bottom of the issue. letters spelling out the word, not who we are,” Ford said.
director to be off the field when appears to have gone along “Brookwood is proud to be an
the halftime performance Ford wrote on Nov. 5 that
after interviews with students, with the plan at the last minute. inclusive and accepting school
started, said Brookwood However, all four of the students community. This is a teachable
Principal William Bo Ford Jr. “three seniors intentionally
planned and executed the use of knew what was going to happen moment for all of us, and
Ford sent a letter to parents, and knew what they were students need to be aware that
students and community the sousaphone covers to spell
out a completely unacceptable, spelling out during the halftime their actions and words have
members Nov. 3 assuring the show.” consequences.” 
racist term. The fourth student,

Parks bond referendum approved by voters CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Brookhaven voters
approved dedicating
$40 million in capital
improvements to the area’s
parks and facilities Nov. 6.
“The residents of
Brookhaven have delivered
a clear mandate for us to
follow through with our city
founders’ vision of a top-
notch park system that can
be enjoyed in the near-term,”
said Brookhaven Mayor John
Ernst.  “With the funding in
place, we can now make it
happen.”
According to District 2
council member John Park,
by law and city council
resolutions, the bond proceeds
can only be spent on park
capital improvements in the
city’s master plan. Payment
of other expenses such as
festivals, paving or office
buildings is prohibited.
“The voters spoke and
they spoke loudly. For that I
remain thankful. I know all of
us will continue working hard
to maintain your confidence
and trust,” said District 4
Councilmember Joe Gebbia.
“I remain confident common
sense will prevail as we
continue on our journey to
make Brookhaven the best
place to work, play and raise a
family.”
The parks capital
improvement project list was
identified for the referendum
was submitted to the mayor
and city council on July
10. The list is now posted
on the city’s website with
feedback from the Brookhaven
community. City officials
encourage the public to view
the list.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The City of Stone Mountain hereby gives notice that a
Public Hearing will be held to receive public comment on
a Zoning Application – Rezone (from R2 Residential to
MR-1 Multifamily Residential) for the property located at
6308 James B. Rivers Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain,
Parcel #18 126 06 002. Proposed use for the property is
Single-family attached – Townhomes.
The Mayor and City Council will hold a Public Hearing
on this matter on Tuesday, December 4th, 2018 at City
Hall located at 875 Main Street, Stone Mountain, GA at
6:30 P.M. Anyone wishing to attend the public hearing
may do so and be heard relative thereto.

PUBLIC NOTICE
Mr. Krabs (ID#
Housing Authority of 39677198) is a 40-lb. fun and
playful pup who loves every
DeKalb County (HADC) human and dog he meets!
This young boy would make
Tenant-Based an awesome playmate for
another dog, but he is also
good at entertaining himself
Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List Opening and absolutely loves all
toys. He has a super sweet
personality and is ready to
OPENS: December 11, 2018 love you and go home with
you today!

CLOSES: December 13, 2018

If you would like to
expand your family by 4
furry little feet; ask to meet
Mr. Krabs and have a loving
APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY friend forever. All adoptions
include your new pet's spay
www.dekalbhousing.org or neuter, vaccinations,
microchip and more! For
MR. KRABS
more information about Mr.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations because of Krabs please call (404) 294-
2165 or email adoption@
a disability, language translation, or communication in an dekalbanimalservices.com.
urgent need of foster homes
for two weeks or more, since
alternative format may call the HADC’S Waiting List Hotline at All potential adopters will
be screened to ensure Mr.
our shelter is completely full
and we are out of room. We
404-270-2590 between 8am and 4pm, December 11-13, 2018. Krabs goes to a good home. will provide everything you
Hours: Mon-Fri; 11am-7pm / need, and you just supply the
Sat-Sun; 11am-6pm love. Interested in helping?
Frequently Asked Questions and Internet Access Not ready to adopt, Please contact foster@
or already have enough
Sites are listed on the HADC’s website. pets? Then please consider
dekalbanimalservices.com.
fostering a pet. We are in
OPINION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 4

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Congratulations to newly appointed Georgia secretary of state
To the Editor:
On behalf of the State Bar of
Georgia, I would like to express
congratulations to attorney Robyn
A. Crittenden, on her appointment
by Gov. Nathan Deal to serve as
Georgia’s secretary of state through
the end of this year.
Ms. Crittenden, a resident
of Tucker, is the first African-
American woman to serve as a
statewide constitutional officer
in Georgia history. During her
distinguished career of 28 years as a
member of the State Bar of Georgia,
her experience includes service
as general counsel at Morehouse
College, assistant vice chancellor of
legal affairs-contracts for the Board
of Regents of the University System
of Georgia, as assistant county
attorney for DeKalb County, in
private practice and, most recently,
three years as commissioner of the
Georgia Department of Human
Resources.
With her acceptance of this
appointment, Secretary of State
Crittenden demonstrates her
continued commitment to serving
the public. We wish her well
in a new capacity of statewide
leadership.
Kenneth B. Hodges III
President, State Bar of Georgia

Foreclosures
Tax Sales/Ads for Bids
Trade Name Registrations
Public Notices/Public meetings
Sheriff Sales/Local Legislation
Notices of Incorporation
To subscribe, visit DeKalbLegalNotices.com
or call 404-373-7779, X 0

#ItsInTheChampion
OPINION
Ballots and recounts and runoffs, oh my!!!
It is Nov. 3, 1992, following a
long night of tabulating, and all four
major news networks calling the
election for incumbent U.S. Senator
Wyche Fowler (D-Georgia), when it
becomes apparent that none of three
candidates has received the required
majority of 50 percent, plus one vote
 Fowler has just over 49 percent,
his opponent, former U.S. Peace
Corps Director Paul Coverdell (R)
is at 48 percent and the Libertarian
nominee, Jim Hudson, is slightly
above 3 percent. Public polls by
the AJC had placed the race in a
landslide reelection for Fowler, by
as much as 22 percent just weeks
ahead of Election Day. But voters
decided otherwise, and though
most of the state’s rural areas and
secondary population centers went
Blue, and voted for Fowler as well as
Democratic Presidential nominee Bill
Clinton, the metro Atlanta suburbs
were then decidedly Red and went
heavily for Coverdell.
Three weeks later, Coverdell wins
Georgia’s first U.S. Senate run-off,
and the U.S. Senate Majority for the
GOP by 16,344 votes, and a margin
of 1.3 percent, which was even
closer on election night. Senator
Fowler chooses not to concede, nor
congratulate and Coverdell is later
sworn in as senator during the next
Congress.
Ballot tabulations are first
completed at the precinct level
and those results are reported to
the county registrar. Georgia has
159 counties and more than 3,300
precincts; so, even with computer
tabulation and electronic tally
submission this takes time. At the
county elections office, advance votes
are often tabulated first, as these do
not come from precinct captains, as
soon as the polls close, and paper
absentee, overseas military absentee
and provisional ballots are counted
last.  In the case of provisional ballots,
also on paper, a voter did not have
required identification present, was
not on registration rolls, appeared not
to have reached voting age or could
not demonstrate citizenship. There
have been plenty of instances in the
past of voter fraud, and voters casting
ballots in more than one jurisdiction;
this is part of ballot and election
security, not voter suppression.
FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
Let Us Know What You Think!
THE DEKALB FREE PRESS encourages opinions from
its readers. Please write to us and express your views.
Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain the
writer’s name, address and telephone number for verifi-
cation. All letters will be considered for publication.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily reflect the opinions
of the editor or publishers. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. The
Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 5
presidency, really came down to a together. One of America’s historic
‘One Man’s split among the nine votes on the U.S. and greatest strengths has been the
Opinion’ Supreme Court, ending the ongoing
Florida recount (with George W.
peaceful transition of power. That
strength comes from our people, and
Bush leading Vice President Al Gore not just from the top.
Bill Crane by 536 votes), resulting in then-Texas  
bill.csicrane@gmail.com Governor Bush winning Florida’s Bill Crane also serves as a political
electoral votes, and the Electoral analyst and commentator for Channel
College by a one vote margin. Many 2’s Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk
 Absentee and provisional ballots said our deeply divided nation would 750 and now 95.5 FM, as well as a
contain no space to indicate race. A never unify again, until the horrific columnist for The Champion, DeKalb
tabulating poll worker would have to tragedy of 9/11 came to our shores Free Press and Georgia Trend. Crane
access county or precinct registration a short 11 months later. Whatever is a DeKalb native and business owner,
files manually to even cross reference the outcome of these individual living in Scottdale. You can reach him or
that data point. Not easy to do on contests, as Georgians, Floridians comment on a column at bill.csicrane@
election night while tabulating or and Americans, we will survive gmail.com.
days later in an election offices while this. Let’s not wait on another act
certifying or recounting without of war, weather or God to bring us
plenty of poll watchers and witnesses
present. 
In the most recent statewide
elections of Nov. 6, Georgia had
record registration, turnout
and ballots cast for a midterm
election. Minority voter registration
and participation also set records,
and Democratic Party nominee,
State Representative Stacey Abrams,
received only 500,000 fewer than the
entire voter turnout during the 2014
race for governor. However with
tabulations still underway, former
Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s
margin of victory remains slightly in
excess of 59,000 ballots and roughly
1.3 percent.
No one questions the importance
of each ballot and eventual tabulation
of every vote, even when those
ballots won’t change the outcome of
a particular race. But as an example,
with overseas military ballots, there
is no way to predict how many will
be received, or by which county,
and though absentee ballots did
set records this cycle, there are not
25,000 or more still outstanding. State
law requires the secretary of state
to certify final results by Tuesday,
November 20. There will be a
statewide runoff on December 4 for
the office of secretary of state, and
other down-ballot contests—but
chances are negligible and shrinking
at this point that there will be a runoff
for governor.
 During the 2000 presidential
election, perhaps the most
suspenseful/long term, recount in
our nation’s history, deciding the
Electoral College, and ultimately the
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
John Hewitt Carla Parker STATEMENT FROM THE
Horace Holloman PUBLISHER
Chief Financial Officer: Taylor Robins We sincerely appreciate the
Dr. Earl D. Glenn discussion surrounding this and any
Social Media Manager: issue of interest to DeKalb County.
SEND LETTERS TO EDITOR, Production Manager: Donna Seay The Champion was founded in 1991
expressly to provide a forum for
The DeKalb Free Press, Kemesha Wadley discourse for all community residents
P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; on all sides of an issue. We have no
Send email to Johnh@dekalbchamp.com desire to make the news only to
FAX To: (404) 370-3903; Phone: (404) 373-7779. The DeKalb Free Press is published each Friday report news and opinions to effect
Deadline for news releases and advertising: by ACE III Communications, Inc., a more educated citizenry that will
Thursday, one week prior to publication date. 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030 ultimately move our community
forward. We are happy to present
Phone (404) 373-7779. ideas for discussion; however,
www.championnewspaper.com we make every effort to avoid
printing information submitted to
us that is known to be false and/or
DISPLAY ADVERTISING (404) 373-7779 x 110 assumptions penned as fact.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 6

Volunteers give a turkey and sweet potato pie to a parent.
GIVEAWAY Continued From Page 1
free food items for the holiday. East
DeKalb Boys & Girls Club Executive
Director Brandon Riley said he and
his staff started the giveaway three
years ago.
“I started with Thanksgiving
boxes. I had a partnership with
Salem Bible Church, which provided
Thanksgiving boxes for all of the
families in the club,” he said. “[The
boxes] consisted of a lot of items—
cranberry sauce, bread, milk and
things like that—but we’ve never
had turkeys. This year, we wanted
to do something different. My staff
came to me and said they wanted to
[give away] turkeys.”
Several organizations, including
the Stone Mountain/Lithonia
Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority and True Love Christian
Church, donated turkeys or money
to purchase turkeys. Publix also
partnered with the club and donated
pies.
Aidra Martin Curry, vice
president and program chairman
for the Stone Mountain/Lithonia
Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, said the sorority has
Parents were given a free turkey and sweet potato pie when they picked up children from
the club.
worked with the club for three years.
“Our organization tries to help
families that are less fortunate, and
when [Riley] came to us and told
us that he wanted to do this for the
families [we said yes],” she said. “We
did it last year, we did it the year
before and we help them around
Christmas [by] buying Christmas
gifts. It’s just part of the things that
we do as a service organization.”
“They’ve supported the cause
and try to provide a great resource
for these parents to have a great
Thanksgiving,” Riley said. “I want
all of my kids to have a great
Thanksgiving.”
Riley said prior to starting the
Thanksgiving Giveaway, he did not
know whether the students had a
hearty Thanksgiving meal.
“It’s my pleasure just to be a
support system,” he said. “It wasn’t
my place to know if they had the
support or not, but I just wanted to
be there for them and let them know
that we are a family.”

VETERANS
Continued From Page 1

his service.
“But you know what,” Aiken asked. “It
won’t stop me. Never ever stop believing in
yourself. And never ever quit.”
Aiken also highlighted that Veterans’ Day
2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the end
of World War I.
“Veterans’ Day should not just be
celebrated today but every day,” Aiken said.
“It’s an honor to take this occasion to
recognize those who stand on the front lines
and who stood on the front lines to protect
our freedom so that we may continue to have
a democracy here,” DCSD superintendent
Dr. R. Stephen Green said.
Green described the event as having the
both the “beginning and the fulfillment”
present at the program, “We have those who
have fulfilled their service and dedicated
their lives and sacrificed for our great nation.
And then we have the emerged and new
leadership that will come on board and fully
join the service.”
The superintendent also promised to
continue the district’s commitment to
promote and recognize the holiday. Cadets stand for the Presentation of Colors Nov. 9. Photo by Taylor Robins
LOCAL
DORAVILLE
Doraville city officials Pam Fleming, left, Joseph Geierman, M. D. Naser, Mayor Donna Pittman, Robert Patrick, Shannon Hillard and
Stephe Koontz discuss topics at the Nov. 11 city council meeting. Photo by Taylor Robins
City gets ahead of the pack with
nondiscrimination ordinance
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
After some confusion,
Doraville city council voted
5-1 Nov. 5 to adopt a city-wide
nondiscrimination ordinance
concerning businesses.
“This is a way for Doraville
to lead the way on diversity
and inclusion in our region
and not be the last in line,” said
Doraville city council member
Stephe Koontz.
Doraville’s newest
ordinance is the second
nondiscrimination ordianace
to be passed in the state
of Georgia. The city of
Atlanta passed a similar
nondiscrimination ordinance
20 years ago. Georgia is one of
three states that does not have
state-level protection for civil
rights.
“I’d hate to see
[discrimination] happen in
Doraville where we end up
on the news with a business
like that in our city and there’s
absolutely nothing we can do
about it,” Koontz said.
“I saw the direction that
our country was turning as
far as people not respecting
other people and I saw a lot
of businesses being blatantly
discriminatory and actually the
owners being proud that they
were,” Koontz said. “I felt like
we needed to do something
about it.”
WE ARE
SOCIAL
In the ordinance, Doraville
is described as “a dynamic
and incredibly diverse place
in metro Atlanta. [Doraville
wants to protect] the rights
of residents and visitors
to the city and ensure the
unbiased services against
discrimination.”
The ordinance would allow
an individual to file a legally
enforceable complaint against
a business displaying “blatant
offenses.”
According to Koontz, the
nearby cities of Chamblee,
Clarkston, Decatur, East Point,
Dunwoody and Brookhaven
are interested in adopting
similar ordinances.
The ordinance would not
have a financial impact on the
city since lawsuits would be
funded by parties involved.
There is also a $50 filing fee
that could be refunded if a
claim is found credible.
Doraville City council
member MD Naser said that
the fee shouldn’t exist and fears
that the fee will deter people
from filing a claim.
Doraville City council
member Pam Fleming, who
voted against the adoption,
said that the ordinance
should include individual-to-
individual cases and not just
individual-to-business cases.
“We need to be looking out
for everyone,” Fleming said.
“It’s not legal,” Koontz
said about Fleming’s concern.
@DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 7
“The First Amendment allows
people to be snotty and rude to
each other and there’s nothing
we can do about that. You can’t
legislate individual behavior.”
The new amendment is
legally enforceable because
businesses are required to be
approved to do business in the
city of Doraville and agree to
follow its ordinances.
“It’s a huge relief that this
passed,” Koontz said. “I’ve
been working on this for six
months trying to figure out a
way to make this work within
the framework of the Georgia
Constitution because they’ve
made it extremely difficult for
these types of things. And it’s
why other cities have thrown
up their hands and said you
can’t do it in a small city. “
After some tension among
council members, Doraville
city council member Robert
Patrick described democracy
as “not a pretty thing, as you
can see us kind of going back
and forth. It’s how it works.”
Ending the city council
meeting, Doraville city council
member Joseph Geierman
shared a heartfelt sentiment.
“As a gay man who
spent my teenage years in
a community where I felt a
daily threat of violence and
discrimination simply because
of who I was, it means a lot to
me to know that Doraville is
a place that welcomes me and
my husband,” Geierman said.
COUNTYWIDE
After votes were tallied in Nov. 8 election, DeKalb Delegation will no longer include
Republican in the House or Senate.
Blue wave wipes
out Republicans
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
After the dust settled on
another election season, the
DeKalb legislative delegation
will no longer include a
Republican in the House or
Senate in January 2019.
Incumbents Karen Handel,
Fran Millar and Meagan
Hanson all lost their bids
for reelection while Michael
Wilensky defeated Ken Wright
for the Georgia House of
Representatives District
79—a seat formerly held by
Republican Thomas Taylor.
Millar has represented
District 40 since 2011. His
seven-year term comes to
an end at the hands of Sally
Harrell.
In an interview with The
Champion Newspaper, Harrell
said Democrats had to rebound
after a “disappointing” election
in 2016.
“If you compare the level
of activity to 2016, it was just
dead. We had no candidates,
no infrastructure, no methods.
We lost before election day
ever happened. It was chaotic,”
Harrell said. “Since then,
we have tried our best to
bring everyone together and
coordinate. This is something
to be extremely proud of.”
Some voters and residents
viewed Harrell’s victory over
Millar an upset. Harrell said the
difference in this year’s election
was Democrats working
together in North DeKalb.
“We worked hard in north
DeKalb to flip these seats,”
Harrell said. “Every competitive
race within Senate District 40
flipped. Matthew Wilson beat
Meagan Hanson, Michael
Wilensky won in Dunwoody,
Beth Moore in Peachtree
Corners and Lucy [McBath]
won.”
In 2017, Handel defeated
Jon Ossoff in Georgia’s 6th
Congressional District,
winning by almost 11,000
votes. The race was known as
the “most expensive House
race” in history.
More than a year later,
political newcomer McBath
defeated Handel in what some
also considered an upset.
McBath said she entered
politics after the death of her
son Jordan Davis, who was shot
and killed by a White man at
a Florida gas station after an
argument about Davis’ music
being too loud. The incident
received national media
attention.  
“This win is just the
beginning. We’ve sent a strong
message to the entire country,”
said McBath on her official
Facebook page. “Absolutely
nothing—no politician [and]
no special interest—is more
powerful than a mother on a
mission.”
While Democrats claimed
wins in DeKalb, one of the
highest seats in Georgia was
won by Republican Brian
Kemp. He defeated Stacey
Abrams, an Avondale Estates
native.
Kemp resigned from
Georgia’s secretary of state
office Nov. 8. He was replaced
by Nathan Deal-appointee
Robyn Crittenden. With the
appointment, Crittenden
became the first Black
woman to hold a statewide
constitutional office.
LOCAL
STONE MOUNTAIN
The parade closes out with Santa in his sleigh.
Sleigh bells are ringing
at Stone Mountain Park
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and
all their friends have landed at
Stone Mountain Park for the park’s
annual holiday festivities.
Stone Mountain Christmas
opened Nov. 10 and will run until
Jan. 6 every weekend and on all
school holidays. The park held a
preview for the holiday tradition
Nov. 9. It features more than
two million LED lights, a daily
production of more than 360 tons
of snow; photo opportunities
with Santa, Rudolph, Clarice
and Angelina the Snow Angel;
a parade; the Polar Express 4-D
movie experience and live holiday
shows including Christmas in the
City.
New to Stone Mountain
Christmas is a high-flying
entrance by Santa and the nightly
Enchanted Christmas Tree lighting
ceremony. Returning for its 11th
season is Snow Mountain, which
will run Nov. 17 to Feb. 24.
Snow Mountain features 18
lanes of snow tubing. Guests
can ride down a 400-foot hill in
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 8
Stone Mountain Christmas opened Nov. 10 and will run until Jan. 6 every weekend and all school holidays.
family-sized tubes or race others
down multiple lanes in a single-
rider tube. Galactic Snow Tubing
after dark is also back and has The Stone Mountain Christmas parade features Rudolph and Clarice.
more lights, lasers and music than
before. Ticketed time slots for
tubing also include all-day access
to the Snow Zone, an open snow
play area with smaller slides for
children, activities and periodic
snow falls.
Michael Dombrowski, Stone
Mountain Park general manager,
said in a released statement that
Stone Mountain Christmas and
Snow Mountain are an “epic
undertaking that our team really
has down to a science.”
“It takes year-round planning
from a team of hundreds hanging
lights, building sets, creating music
and sculpting enough snow to
create the region’s largest snow
park,” Dombrowski said. “The
result is an experience that guests
of all ages and walks of life can
enjoy together.”
Tickets for both Stone
Mountain Christmas and Snow
Mountain are available online at
stonemountainpark.com.
Stone Mountain Christmas also features live shows Guest can enjoy Christmas songs from Christmas carolers.
and photo opportunities with Santa Claus. Photos by Carla Parker
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

Retired DeKalb County Fire and Rescue firefighters are honored at an annual luncheon.

Students from Clarkston High School learn about fire trucks after they voted for the
first time for the Nov. 6 midterm elections at the DeKalb County Voter Registration
office Nov. 2. Photo taken by Taylor Robins

Decatur Police Department officer Sgt. Bender reads to children at College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center. Two young children and a Chamblee police officer enjoy Chamblee’s “Tacos with a
Cop” event at Big Daddy’s Tacos Nov. 1. (City of Chamblee Twitter)

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

EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 10

CLARKSTON

Elementary school
gets drug lesson from
‘Pam and Buffy’
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com

Students recently received a

lesson in avoiding illegal drugs
in a fun and interactive way.
“Pam and Buffy,” a
performance act created by
vocalist and recording artist
Pamela Weeks visited Jolly
Elementary School Oct. 23.
“Our purpose is to be very
entertaining, to keep the kids
engaged and motivated, while
giving them the message ‘Cool
is me, I’m drug free,’” Weeks
said.
Weeks and her 6-foot-tall
sheepdog costumed character
Buffy, dressed in a polka-dotted
skirt, performed songs for
pre-kindergarten through fifth-
grade students in October.
“My experiences with
working with clients that have
substance abuse disorder [has
been knowing] they begin using
when they are 13-years-old.
So it is critical to plant these
seeds early on and to develop
a relationship with these
children,” said Weeks about
her motivation to perform
for young children about the
serious topic.
Weeks, who has visited Jolly
Elementary School numerous
times, said she wants children
to understand the negative
effects if they make a high-risk
choice.
“Seeing these children
makes me realize how
important having a one-on-
one relationship with them is,”
Weeks said.
Weeks said during the
performance one student asked
her to come back the next day.
Another student shared with
Pamela Weeks performs at Jolly
Elementary School Oct. 23. Photos by
Cornelius Newman
her that the student wanted
to be a doctor because of the
performance.
Weeks, a Cedartown native,
started her entertainment
career as a country club singer.
She said she found her path
when she performed at a local
children’s hospital in 1990' she
said performing at hospitals
turned into performing at
schools.
“I never thought that I was a
speaker; I’m a singer. And I love
kids and that’s when Buffy was
born,” the performer said.
Nancy Newsome was the
original performer to play
Buffy; now Tashi Mincey
brings the Buffy character to
life.
Since starting the “Pam and
Buffy” performances, Weeks
has opened DeKalb DUI
School 'a school that offers risk
reduction classes to drivers' in
2013. According to Weeks, the
performance and the school Performing duo “Pam and Buffy” entertain the children at Jolly Elementary school.
discourage illegal drug and
alcohol use.
“Addiction [to drugs and and alcohol very quickly and is working on a South Georgia and Christmas.
alcohol] is a family disease the things they go through to tour for “Pam and Buffy” for Weeks urges anyone dealing
and it affects everybody in the get drugs hurts everybody.” December. Weeks plans to with alcohol and substance
family,” Weeks said. “A person To further educate children create a story in which Santa abuse to call the Crisis Access
can become addicted to opioids on drugs and alcohol, Weeks gets sick and Buffy saves Santa Hotline at 1-1800-715-4225.

Education Briefs BY TAYLOR ROBINS • taylor@dekalbchamp.com

First-year physical therapy students receive white
coats
Forty-two members of the Doctor of Physical
Therapy Class of 2021 at Georgia State University
received their white coats at the annual White Coat
Ceremony and Service of Remembrance on Sept. 6.
Local students include Yonatan Eshetu, of Stone
Mountain; Yusan Humphrey, of Lithonia; Nina
Newkirk, of Decatur; and Hyo Young Jang, of
Decatur.
Receiving the white coats marks the students’
transition to clinical education and professional status
as developing healthcare providers.
REACH scholars earn $10,000 each
Tucker Middle School students Dalsian Khai,
Meitte Dufera and Khairat Adebayo were awarded
$10,000 scholarships on Oct. 23 by Georgia’s
Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen
(REACH) program.
REACH is designed to provide academically
promising students with support to continue through
middle and high school, gain access to college and
achieve post-secondary success.
EDUCATION
DECATUR
Parents gather at Renfroe Middle School to learn about student drug and alcohol use statistics. Photo by Taylor Robins
Parents learn about drug and alcohol use statistics
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Concerned parents gathered Nov. 8
inside Renfroe Middle School’s library to
learn how drugs and alcohol may affect
their children.
With the opioid crisis making
recent headlines, approximately 75
local parents brainstormed with the
Decatur Prevention Initiative (DPI)
to understand possible underage drug
and alcohol use in the City Schools of
Decatur community during an “Alcohol,
Drugs, and Tweens” event.
According to February 2018 DPI
survey results, 40 percent of Decatur
High School seniors and 21 percent of
Decatur High School sophomores had
at least one alcoholic drink prior to the
survey. This number was compared
to 13 percent of DeKalb County
School District seniors and 10 percent
of DeKalb County School District
sophomores who had one alcoholic
drink prior to the survey.
Decatur High School’s results were
Education Briefs
DeKalb educator named participant
in nationwide program
Jason Butler, former history
teacher at DeKalb Early College
Academy and current DeKalb
County School District professional
development facilitator, was named
one of eight participants in the
Understanding Sacrifice program
by the American Battle Monuments
Commission.
Throughout the 2018-2019 school
year, Butler will visit Washington D.C.,
as well as monuments in the United
also higher than students in all of
Georgia. With 17 percent of seniors and
12 percent of sophomores reporting to
have had at least one alcoholic drink 30
days prior to the survey.
Approximately, 23 percent of Decatur
High School seniors admitted to
participating in binge drinking having
five or more drinks in a row. DCSD
reported seven percent and the statewide
reported average was 10 percent of
seniors binge drinking.
“Let’s go to the good news,” DPI
representative Terrie Moore said. “There
are kids that may try this once and we’ll
hit them on those 30 days. We surveyed
them after the New Years.”
According to an official at Decatur
High School, students feel that the
results of the survey are “spot on or low.”
In the same survey, 30 percent
of Decatur High School seniors and
19 percent of sophomores smoked
marijuana 30 days prior to the survey,
compared to DCSD’s 15 percent of
seniors and 10 percent of sophomores.
In all of Georgia, 13 percent of seniors
and 9 percent of sophomores admitted
to smoking marijuana in the same 30
States and Europe to advance the
program’s studies.
Local student attends Columbia
engineering experience
Kaylee Cornelius, a dual
enrollment student studying at Georgia
State University’s Perimeter College,
was selected to attend the Columbia
Engineering Experience at Columbia
University Oct. 7-9.
Cornelius is a student at Lakeside
High School.
According to Columbia University,
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 11
days.
The top three substances local
students are using are alcohol, vape pens
and marijuana, according to Moore.
During the event, parents also
learned meaning of the terms “farm
party,” “jeweling” and edibles.
A farm party happens when people
bring assorted pills to share together
at a party. Jeweling is another word for
vaping and edibles are snacks laced with
THC oil.
Some audience members admitted
that they have a hand in their children’s
possible substance use and noted that
Decatur is a “drinking city” with various
festivals, special events and restaurants.
Parents also learned that their
students get pills and alcohol from
the home, possibly, without parental
knowledge. Students can also buy
pills and alcohol though friends with
allowances. However, youth share
substances rather than sell.
Another topic discussed was
a negative effect of the affluent
community. With parents being away at
work often, the students may have more
independence to abuse substances.
the engineering experience is a
selective, three-day program designed
for high school seniors interested in
an engineering education, particularly
for students from backgrounds
underrepresented in engineering and
applied science.
Second consecutive STEM Talk
Winner
DeKalb County School District
seventh-grade student Eliana Marcus
was named the middle school STEM
Talk Winner by the Georgia STEM/
Moore shared a secret with parents
onto a secret about how to drop the
percent of substance abuse.
“When perceived parental
disapproval goes up,” Moore said. “Drug
use goes down. They don’t want to
disappoint you. ”
“Thank you for being here tonight,”
Moore said to the parents. “Just by you
leaving the house and walking in here,
you’re child knows you’re thinking about
this. It says something to them.”
Cemeteries, Oakhurst Park, McKoy
Park, Winnona Park and others’ home
are among places local students go to
abuse substances according to Decatur
Parents.
Signs and symptoms of substance
usually include a change in friends,
declining grades, loss of interest in
hobbies, unusual smells and unexplained
disappearances of household money.
Moore suggests getting involved
in students’ lives as a community to
create a safe place to talk about possible
substance abuse.
STEAM forum.
This is the second consecutive win
from DeKalb County School District.
Perfect score for exceptional
education
Each year, the Georgia Department
of Education’s Division for Special
Education Services and Supports scores
school districts on their ability to serve
students with special needs.
DCSD obtained the highest possible
score—100 percent—in nine areas of
assessment.
AROUNDDEKALB
DECATUR
DeKalb commissioner to
host tree lighting
DeKalb County
Commissioner Larry
Johnson will host the 11th
annual tree lighting Nov.
27 at 7 p.m. at the Porter
Sanford III Perfoming Arts
& Community Center. The
event will be held at 3181
Rainbow Drive in Decatur.
For more information, call
(404) 371-2425.
STONECREST
Library to host Zumba
class
A Zumba class will take
place Nov. 17 from 10:30
to 11:30 a.m. at Stonecrest
CLASSIFIEDS
TheCHAMPION
AUCTIONS
Advertise Your Auction in
over 100 newspapers for only
$350. Your 25-word classified
ad reaches more than1
million readers. Call Bruce
at the Georgia Newspaper
Service, 770-454-6776.
EDUCATION /CAREER
TRAINING
INSTRUCTION
Forklift certification classes-
One day class starts at 9 am
Monday-Friday. Three year
OSHA certification. Classes are
$150.00 cash. To reserve your
spot or for questions contact
us at roger@forkliftusa.com or
call us at 770-483-4753. HOPE
TO SEE YOU SOON!!
The Champion is not responsible for any damages resulting from advertisements. All sales final.
RATES: $30 for up to 40 words, each
additional word $0.60. All ads are
prepaid. All major credit cards accepted.
Library. The class is open
to the first 15 participants.
The library is located at
3123 Klondike Road. For
more information, call
(770) 482-3828.
STONE MOUNTAIN
City to host Christmas
festival
Stone Mountain will host
its annual Christmas
Fireworks, Festival and
Parade event Dec. 1 from
4 to 7 p.m. on Main Street.
The event will include
a vendor market, a live
drum show with Atlanta
Taiko Group choirs and
disc jockey KD’s Bass &
Beats Entertainment. The
Stone Mountain High
School Marching Band and
Stephenson Middle School
New Year, New Career-
AVIATION Grads work with
JetBlue, Boeing, Delta and
others-Get hands on training
for FAA certification. Financial
aid if qualified. Call Aviation
Institute of Maintenance (866)
564-9634 www.FixJets.com
Do you know a student
interested in a career in
newspapers? Georgia Press
Educational Foundation offers
scholarships & internships
to Georgians studying
journalism. www.gapress.org/
scholarships-internships/
HELP WANTED
New Jerusalem Adult Day
Ads due by Friday at noon for next
publication date. For more information
visit www.championclassifieds.com
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 12
Band will march in the
parade. There will be hot
chocolate, marshmallow
roasting and a Letters to
Santa writing station. For
more information, visit the
Stone Mountain Christmas
Fireworks, Festival and
Parade event page on
Facebook.
TUCKER
Restaurant to host fall
art market
The Local 7 will host its
inaugural fall art market
Nov. 18 from 3 to 10 p.m.
The event will feature
art, food and drinks. The
Local 7 is located at 2316
Main Street. For more
information, visit www.
thelocal7.com.
Care is hiring a full-time
driver. Must pass background,
drug test and MVR. Contact
Dr. Julius Edmondson, Sr.
(770) 981-7408. Location
is 5721 Miller Grove Road,
Lithonia, GA 30058.
MISCELLANEOUS
SAWMILLS from only
$4397.00-MAKE & SAVE
MONEY with your own
bandmill-Cut lumber any
dimension. In stock ready to
ship! FREE Info/DVD: www.
NorwoodSawmills.com 800-
567-0404 Ext. 300N
COMPUTER ISSUES? FREE
DIAGNOSIS by GEEKS ON SITE!
Virus Removal, Data Recovery!
24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICE, In-
COUNTYWIDE
Schools closing for
Thanksgiving break
Schools of to City
Schools of Decatur and
DeKalb County School
District will be closed Nov.
19-23 for the Thanksgiving
holiday.
Clothing drive to help
the homeless
DeKalb County
Commissioner Gregory
Adams is partnering
with Pinch of Excellence’s
CEO, Michelle Stanton,
for Bags of Love. Bags of
Love is a clothing drive
that will provide homeless
in DeKalb with sleeping
bags, hats, gloves, heavy
duty socks and other
home repair/On-line solutions
. $20 OFF ANY SERVICE! 844-
359-9730
Do you use a CPAP machine
for sleep apnea? Get your FDA
approved CPAP machine and
supplies at little or no cost!
Free sleep supplement and
sleep guide included! 877-
396-9214.
Compare Medicare
Supplement Plans and
Save! Explore Top Medicare
Supplement Insurance Plans
For Free! Get Covered and
Save! 844-226-8713.
OXYGEN-Anytime. Anywhere.
No tanks to refill. No
deliveries. The All-New Inogen
One G4 is only 2.8 pounds
DISCLAIMER: We do not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate,
or intend to discriminate, on any illegal basis. Nor do we knowingly accept
employment advertisements that are not bona-fide job offers. All real estate
advertisements are subject to the fair housing act and we do not accept
advertising that is in violation of the law. The law prohibits discrimination
based on color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status.
clothing items.
According to DeKalb
officials, the goal is to
provide sleeping bags and
clothing for 250 homeless
individuals in DeKalb.
Donations of
waterproof sleeping bags
skull caps, gloves and
socks can be dropped off
in the lobby area of the
Manuel J. Maloof building
at 1300 Commerce Drive
in Decatur until Nov. 28.
For more information,
please contact Adams’
office at (404) 371-
2899 or via email
at gregoryadams@
dekalbcountyga.gov.
FAA approved! Free info kit:
888-601-0024.
Lowest Prices on Health
Insurance. We have the best
rates from top companies!
Call Now! 877-706-7553.
BATHROOM RENOVATIONS,
East, One DAY updates! We
specialize in safe bathing,
Grab Bars, no slip flooring &
seated showers. Call for free
in-home consultation. 866-
286-5461
Medical alert System for
Seniors. Peace of Mind-Less
than $1 a day! Limited time
offer: Free Shipping, Free
Equipment & Free Activation!
Call anytime: 855-746-7421.
BUSINESS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 13

DORAVILLE

Award recognizes company’s

growth, profitability and culture
BY KATHY MITCHELL
Freelance Reporter
A company created six
years ago on a kitchen table in
the United Kingdom is now
headquartered in Doraville
and receiving national
attention within its industry.
IT Works Recruitment Inc., a
recruitment consultancy that
specializes in niche business
systems, won a 2018 TechServe
Alliance Excellence Award at
the Nov. 7-9 Annual TechServe
Alliance Conference in Bonita
Springs, Fla.
The award recognizes
information technology
and engineering
recruitment firms that have
demonstrated excellence
through performance, team
productivity and dedication
to continuous improvement,
according to Mark Roberts,
CEO of TechServe Alliance,
who in a released statement
said the winners represent “the
very best in our industry.”
The TechServe Alliance
Excellence Awards, now
in their fifth year, are the
only awards dedicated
exclusively to recognizing
breakout performance in
the information technology
and engineering staffing and
solutions industry, according to
an announcement by IT Works
Recruitment. This is the second
time IT Works Recruitment as
been recognized by TechServe
Alliance; however, it is its
first year being recognized in
the category designated for
businesses with revenues of
between $10 million and $50
million.
IT Works Recruitment
CEO Gary Dytor, on whose
kitchen table the company was
birthed, called the recognition
“a very prestigious award
that represents the expertise
we demonstrate within our
segment. I’m especially pleased
that it’s not just based on
numbers. Those choosing the
award winners looked at our
culture as a company and how
we do business. We’re feel
these are things that make us
stand out,” he said. To ensure
objectivity and fairness in
the award selection process,
TechServe Alliance announced,
it engages an independent
third party to evaluate the
awards applications.
Dytor said IT Works
Recruitment was created to
serve what he calls tier two
businesses—small to medium
size firms. “We focused on
this segment of the business
world and made ourselves
experts in identifying hard-to-
find contract and permanent
resources to address the niche
technology needs of our
clients. We know the market
inside and out. We know the
requirements, trends and
upcoming opportunities,” he
explained, adding, “and we
never stop learning. No one is
an expert until he’s served the
time.”
Dytor said he had decided
that the United States was
the right place to launch his
company and initially looked at
Chicago, based on his potential
client base. “I met with an
investment organization
from Atlanta and ended up
in Georgia instead,” he said,
adding that the decision turned
out to be a good one. “As a
transportation hub, Atlanta is
the ideal place from which to
travel anywhere in the U.S.”
Although growth and
profitability aren’t the only
factors that make IT Works
Recruitment stand out, Dytor
said, he’s pleased with those
as well. “We set a goal to be a
$10 million company in five
years; we made it in three and
a half. This award showcases
our growth year-on-year
and our knowledge in niche
recruitment.”
At the core of IT Works
Recruitment Inc., according
the Dytor, is “a set of highly
scalable, process-driven
methodologies for recruiting
and placing experienced talent
while driving client, candidate
and talent satisfaction.” What
makes it all work, he added, is
his “fantastic team.”
“The idea that people make
the difference in a company is
one you hear 100 times a day, IT Works Recruitment CEO Gary Dytor says his staff members are “experts in
but when you really live that, identifying hard-to-find contract and permanent resources to address the niche
you create a level of excellence technology needs of clients.”
that’s undeniable. That’s
reflected in our office operation 10 days off at Christmas, for it with a smile.”
and in our recruitment. People example. They want flexibility, At present, IT Works
in today’s workforce want more which we provide in work Recruitment has a local staff of
than a paycheck. They want a hours and other matters,” he 36 with 70 consultants around
balance between their work life said. “We know Atlanta traffic the country. “That will increase
and their private life. We try to can be a challenge. We play to 150 to 170 by September
provide that. We give our staff hard; we work hard, and we do 2019,” Dytor said.

CITY OF CHAMBLEE PUBLIC NOTICE

A copy of the proposed 2018 Operating Budget for the City
of Chamblee will be available for review at City Hall, 5468
Peachtree Road, on Monday, November 12, 2018.
A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held on
Visit us online @
TheChampionNewspaper.com
Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Civic Center,
3540 Broad Street.
Any persons wishing to be heard on the budget may appear
and be heard.
The City Council will adopt the budget on Tuesday, December
18, 2018.The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be held in
the Civic Center.
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Three teams advance
to second round
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The first round of the high
school state football playoffs
was a rough one for DeKalb
County as three out nine teams
advanced to the second round.
The Cedar Grove Saints,
Marist War Eagles and St. Pius
X Golden Lions won their
first-round matchups and will
play Nov. 16 in the second
rounds of their respective
classifications. Arabia
Mountain, Lithonia, Miller
Grove, Southwest DeKalb,
Stephenson and Tucker were
eliminated from the playoffs.
In Class AAA, No. 2-ranked
Cedar Grove dominated
Hart County in a 49-0 win
at Avondale Stadium Nov. 9.
Running back Robert Jones
led the offense with 105 yards
and two touchdowns on eight
carries. Quarterback Austin
Smith also had two rushing
touchdowns. Wide receiver
Jadon Haselwood finished the
game with five receptions for
97 yards and a touchdown.
The Saints’ defense held
Hart County to 154 total yards
of offense. Cedar Grove (10-1)
will host North Hall (9-2) at
Godfrey Stadium in the second
WEEKLY BASKETBALL SCORES
Nov. 8
Girls
Columbia 68, KIPP 39
Nov. 10
Boys
Cedar Grove 59, Stockbridge
45
Lakeside 51, Towers 49
Southwest DeKalb 88, Therrell
87
Tucker 89, Creekside 52
Banneker 42, Lithonia 36
round. Kickoff is scheduled for
7:30 p.m.
Rivals Marist (9-2) and St.
Pius X (10-1) will face each
other in the second round.
This will be the 55th meeting
between the two schools.
Marist has a 33-18-3 all-time
record against St. Pius, but
the Golden Lions won the
last matchup, beating the War
Eagles 17-0 on Sept. 14.
No. 7-ranked Marist
advanced to the second
round with a 61-20 win over
Heritage-Catoosa Nov. 9.
Quarterback Connor Cigelske
led the War Eagles to victory,
totaling 238 yards of offense.
He ran for 149 yards on 10
carries and scored three
touchdowns. His longest run
was 66 yards. He also threw for
89 yards and two touchdowns.
Wide receiver Kyle
Hamilton was the recipient of
those two passing touchdowns.
He had a total of four catches
for 68 yards. Matthew
Dunmon had two rushing
touchdowns and Thomas
Rollauer had on touchdown.
No. 4-ranked St. Pius
advanced to the second
round with a 38-6 win
over Cedertown Nov. 9.
Quarterback Connor Egan
Butler 68, Redan 60
Hapeville Charter 59, WD
Mohammed 48
Pace Academy 56, Marist 44
Savannah 49, Clarkston 40
Shiloh 81, Stephenson 52
Trinity Christian 78, Miller
Grove 67
Girls
Marist 41, Pace Academy 32
Hapeville Charter 74, WD
Mohammed 26
Westlake 65, Stephenson 54
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 14
led the Golden Lions with
122 passing yards on 6-of-
10 completions and one
touchdown. He also had 54
rushing yards on eight carries.
Fullback DeMarcus
Mitchell rushed for 108 yards
on 14 carries, running back
Jacob Pajer had rushing
touchdown and a touchdown
reception, and Jason Jones,
Michael Benefield and Cedar Grove quarterback Austin Smith scored two rushing touchdowns against Hart
County. Photo by Mark Brock
James Bir each had a rushing
touchdown.
St. Pius will host Marist
Nov. 16 with a kickoff set for
7:30 p.m.
Other playoff scores
Class AAAAAA
Coffee (8-3) 45, Stephenson
(9-2) 17
Northside-Warner Robins (6-
5) 43, Tucker (7-4) 21
Class AAAAA
Buford (9-2) 35, Miller Grove
(3-8) 14
Cedar Shoals (8-3) 41, Lithonia
(6-5) 0
Clarke Central (7-4) 35, Arabia
Mountain (6-5) 13
Loganville (5-6) 14, Southwest
DeKalb (10-1) 13
Cedar Grove running back Robert Jones tries to escape a Hart County defender. Photo
by Mark Brock
#ItsInTheChampion
Visit us online @
TheChampionNewspaper.com
REDUCE • REUSE
RECYCLE
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 15

NEXT VOLLEYBALL

LEVEL
Each week The Champion spotlights former high
school players from DeKalb County who are
succeeding in athletics at the college level.

Alterique Gilbert,
Connecticut
(basketball): The
redshirt sophomore
from Miller Grove
had scored 12 points
and had four assists Emory won the NCAA Mount Berry Regional volleyball championship and advanced to the D-III Championships.
in the 94-66 win over
Missouri-Kansas City
Nov. 11.
Emory volleyball win Mount
Berry Regional championship
Eagles continued to employ an aces and eight digs. Senior
BY CARLA PARKER effective serving game as well, Mady Arles ran the attack with
Justin Hughes, Kansas carla@dekalbchamp.com doling out a season-high tying precision, compiling 46 assists,
State (football): The 14 aces. Over the nine sets that tying her second-highest
junior linebacker from The No. 9-ranked Emory Emory played at the Regional career total. Senior Becky
Eagles volleyball team meet, it totaled 36 service aces. Breuer keyed the serving effort
Tucker had five tackles captured the NCAA Mount Leading the offensive with a career-high six aces, the
in the 21-17 win over Berry Regional Championship charge in the finals was senior high-water mark by an Emory
Nov. 11 after defeating No. middle Sydney Leimbach, player this year. Breuer also
Kansas Nov. 10. 22-ranked Mary Hardin- who launched a career-high chipped in seven digs, tying
Baylor. tying 16 kills, hitting .591 (16- for second high on the team
Emory nailed down their 3—22) in the process with to junior Elyse Thompson’s
14th victory in the last 15 that mark the second-highest match-high 11.
outings and improved their registered by an Emory player Leimbach, Saunder and
record to 27-6 following a this year. Senior Karissa Arles all were selected to the
three-set (25-19, 25-20, 25-14) Dzurik closed out the contest Mount Berry Regional All-
Daisa Alexander, victory over Mary Hardin- with 13 terminations, her 22nd Tournament Team with Arles
Auburn (basketball): Baylor (28-5). double-figure effort of the being tabbed as the most
Emory’s offense was in high season. outstanding player.
The junior guard from gear, closing out the contest Sophomore Leah Saunders Emory advanced to the
Southwest DeKalb with an attack percentage of was next up on the score sheet D-III Championships in
scored 14 points and .375 (51-12—104), its third- with nine successful attack Pittsburgh, which begins Nov.
highest effort of the year. The attempts to go along with two 15.
had four rebounds and
three steals in the 79-76
win over New Mexico
Nov. 11.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 • Page 16

DORAVILLE

Peachtree Industrial Boulevard may be renamed ‘Young Thug’ fails drug

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
The street could be renamed
Peachtree Boulevard.
“We were once an industrial
be known as a diverse, vibrant
and inclusive municipality that
welcomes visitors. City officials
test, sent to jail
city and we embrace that history have approved the Assembly
Doraville city BY TAYLOR ROBINS
but we are not any longer,” District multi-use development
councilmembers voted 5-1
Pittman said. project, pubs and breweries and taylor@dekalbchamp.com
to authorize City Manager
Reasons for the possible an open-container ordinance
Regina Williams-Gates to do
renaming include efforts to for special events recently. Jeffery Lamar Williams–
“all things necessary” to pursue
be consistent with Chamblee Council member Pam who goes by the stage name
the renaming of Peachtree
and Brookhaven’s Peachtree Fleming voted against the Young Thug–is sitting in the
Industrial Boulevard.
Boulevard and also marketing possibility of the name change, DeKalb County Jail following a
“It’s time for a change,”
purposes. stating, “Once you have a good failed Nov. 8 drug test.
Doraville Mayor Donna
This year the city has thing you shouldn’t erase it.” The rapper has been out
Pittman said.
worked to change its image to on bond since Sept. 27, 2017,
when he was charged with
eight felony drug and gun

DCSD comments on Dunwoody native’s death charges–possession and intent

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
After Maura Brinkley,
a DeKalb County School
District graduate, was killed in
a Tallahassee, Fla., yoga studio
shooting Nov. 2, DCSD offered
its condolences.
“We are saddened to learn
of this tragic incident involving
Maura Brinkley, a 2015 graduate
of Dunwoody High School. Our
hearts and prayers go out to
her family and friends,” DeKalb
County School District officials
said in a statement.
In addition to being a
Dunwoody High School
graduate, the 21-year-old
attended Florida State
University where she double-
majored in journalism and
German, according to her
Facebook page. She planned to
graduate in May.
A gunman, whom the
Tallahassee Police Department
identified as 40-year-old Scott
Paul Beierle, killed one other
person and wounded five
others before killing himself,
Tallahassee officials said.
A public memorial service,
planned by the family, will
take place Nov. 25 at St. James
United Methodist Church on
Peachtree Dunwoody Road.
FSU has already held a vigil for
Brinkley.
to distribute meth, possession
of hydrocodone, more than
Young Thug is being held in DeKalb
County without bond. Photo courtesy of
an ounce of marijuana, DeKalb County Sherriff’s Office
amphetamine, alprazolam,
two counts of codeine and
a firearm, according to the Williams’ bond was revoked
after the failed drug test. A
county jail site.
condition of the rapper’s bond
The rapper was initially
was to stay clean.
pulled over Sept. 24, 2017
According to the county jail
in Brookhaven because
site, Williams was booked into
his window tint was too
jail at 11:22 a.m. on Nov. 8 and
dark, according to jailing
is being held without bond.
information.

YOUR
HOLIDAY
HELPER
Order your holiday dinner online.
That’s everyday easy.

publix.com/order
Please place orders at least
48 hours in advance.