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IRMA
A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS
GEDDON
DeKalb responds to first-
ever tropical storm warning
as result of largest recorded
hurricane in history
Hurricane Irma was declared early in its track over the Carribean as the largest recorded hurricane in history.
A
s Hurricane Irma decimated many
parts of Florida with wind speeds
reaching up to 80 miles per hour,
the Peach State hunkered down
for its first-ever tropical storm
warning. On Sept. 9, Gov. Nathan Deal
issued a state of emergency for all 159
Georgia counties.
DeKalb County officials said they were
all hands-on deck for the storm as first
responders worked to respond to fallen trees
and downed power lines.
DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond
said the county will serve as a safe-haven
for Florida residents affected by Hurricane
Irma.
We would like to send our sincerest Initial effects were seen early afternoon of Sept. 11. Photo by John Hewitt
thoughts and prayers to those that have
been effected by this historic hurricane, wish them safety, Thurmond said. hitting the Florida Keys, said Loeffler.
Thurmond said. Here in DeKalb County, we Susan Loeffler, director of the DeKalb The county created the website www.
want to extend our friendship and support County Emergency Management Agency dekalbcountyga.gov/irma for residents to
for those coming to Georgia and ensure that (DCEMA), said her department prepared for visit and receive updates on the storm.
anyone in this county will be safe and secure power outages and trees down and urged Its all about being prepared. Weve
as we wait out this storm. residents to stay safe during the storm. She been working with everybody from roads
DeKalb County officials said one of the also said residents should be prepared to be and drainage to our school system, our
biggest concerns would be dealing with without power for four to five days. hospitals and infrastructure officials. We
power outages and fallen trees and tree This is not a big rain maker storm like wanted to do everything we could to be
limbs. you saw in Houston. Were not going to be prepared, Loeffler said. Its been a lot of
As of Sept. 11, according to Georgia getting 50 inches of rain. We know were preparing because you never know whats
utility provider Georgia Power, more than going to get some spot flooding and were going to come at you.
200,000 customers were without power. preparing for trees down and trees down on DeKalb County Government offices
Thurmond said the countys first houses, Loeffler said. I know its exciting closed Sept. 11 and Sept. 12. Several
responders were scheduled to work around and this is something that doesnt happen remembrance ceremonies scheduled
the clock until the conditions of the storm very often, but please dont run to your glass throughout the county for the anniversary
passed. windows. Get inside and stay safe. of the Sept. 11 terrorists attack were also
These men and women have dedicated The DCEMA contacted county first cancelled.
their lives and careers to protecting and responders a week prior to Hurricane Irma
serving this community and I thank them and See Irma on page 5
T
District (DCSD) regrets that students
he DeKalb County Chapter of at the DeKalb School of the Arts were
the National Association for the exposed to the nudity and racist
Advancement of Colored People caricatures contained in the video. Those
(NAACP) has taken action after images have absolutely no place in our
students at a DeKalb County High School classrooms, and the decision to show the
were shown what some parents say was a video is totally outside of the districts
racist video. policies, expectations and standards. An
On Aug. 31, DeKalb NAACP President investigation was conducted, and the
Teresa Hardy, along with DeKalb NAACP personnel responsible for the showing
Education Chair Lance Hammonds, met have been addressed through personnel
with DeKalb Schools Superintendent matters. Moving forward, DCSD will
Stephen Green to discuss the video. partner with community agencies to
According to a press release sent by the provide support and work to ensure that
DeKalb NAACP, Green was understanding incidents like this do not happen in the
of parents concerns after the video was future.
shown in class. The NAACP has no input how the
According to parents, third level French school will handle personnel matters,
students in Jim Dicksons classroom at Hardy said, but she stated Green said he
DeKalb School of the Arts were shown will take responsibility to make sure the
an excerpt from the film The Triplets of issue never happens again.
Belleville. Theres a lot of stuff going on and
According to some parents, the everyone has some sensitivity. The things
movie has elements of racism, sexism and we saw in the video are some of the things
misogyny. The movie also featured a bare- that were still fighting for today, Hardy said.
breasted caricature of Josephine Baker Nwandi Lawson, a parent whose
dancing in a banana skirt. Baker wore the daughter is in Dicksons class, said her
banana dress in 1926 at the Folies Bergre daughter was reprimanded for attempting
in Paris when she danced in a musical to capture cell phone footage of the
show called la revue ngre or the negro incident during class.
show. Initially, Lawson said she was upset
Hardy said the meeting with Green was with her daughter for being sent to the
productive and hopes diversity training principals office, but once she discovered
will be given to teachers and school the reason she became upset with the
personnel in the future. school.
The meeting with Dr. Green actually The statistics are there. Black girls are
went very well. He was aware of our far more likely to be disciplined in a school
concerns as it relates to the video and our setting. While the students sat in abject
biggest [request] of him is to make sure silence, no one is saying anything, Lawson
this doesnt happen again, Hardy said. We said If you can imagine being a 16-year-
talked about giving cultural bias training old girl and a person, an adult figure, is
entered into the curriculum. subjecting you to this kind of abuse.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 Page 3
AROUNDDEKALB
AVONDALE
Past On the Scene events have included
Greens plan for the remainder of the school
year, important dates in the district, introduction
to inspire kids to discover the rich cultural
and natural landscapes around them, said
Mera Cardenas, executive director of the
ESTATES
to Greens cabinet and updates from DCSD Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance. Were
administrators. encouraging families to join us for a day filled with
Near the end of the event, Green will take adventure where future Junior Rangers can come
questions from parents and stakeholders in explore, learn and protect our wonderful resources
Annual yard sale announced attendance. in the National Heritage Area.
Future 2017-2018 On the Scene with Dr. Green Attendees will also have the chance to become
Avondale Estates will host its annual citywide events will take place at Cross Keys High School Junior Rangers, a program in which kids ages 8 to
yard sale on Sept. 16, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The on Nov. 9, Marbut Elementary School on Jan. 18, 12 can learn farming basics, stain glass design and
yard sale will take place throughout the city. For Druid Hills Middle School on March 8 and Stone animal interaction. At the end of the day, on Sept.
more information, visit www.avondaleestates. Mountain Middle School on April 19. 30, those interested will be sworn in and receive
org. badges as part of a special ceremony.
LITHONIA
Participating partners include the AWARE
Wildlife Center, Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature
Preserve, Flat Rock Archives, Monastery of the Holy
CHAMBLEE
Spirit and Panola Mountain State Park.
To RSVP to Junior Ranger Day, visit
juniorrangerday.bpt.me. Registration is $5 per
child. Parking for the event is also $5 per car.
For more information, contact Sarah Lisle at
sarah@arabiaalliance.org or call (404) 998-8384.
STONE
MOUNTAIN
Citywide yard sale announced
Stone Mountains citywide yard sale will be held
Onion Man to help residents explore Sept. 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the First
creative side Baptist Church lawn in the center of town. Set
up begins at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the sale
Onion Man Productionsa nonprofit theater tables will not be provided. A limited number of
located at 5522 New Peachtree Roadwill host a 10-foot-by-10-foot spaces under the pavilion are
series of writing workshops known as Just Write! available at $20 each on a first come, first served
beginning Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. basis. Residents and non-residents can reserve
Known as Onion Mans signature class, Just 10-foot-by-10-foot lawn spaces for $10 each. For
Write! helps participants learn the basics of writing more information, contact Susan Coletti at (404)
a play. By the end of the series, participants will 444-5607.
leave with a draft of a 10-minute play. Promising
plays may be considered for submission at the
theater. Music event coming soon
Participants are asked to bring something to
write with and on. Heart Hunters will perform Sept. 22 at Stone
Cost for the course is $85 total for five weeks Mountains Tunes By The Tracks event in the
of instruction. Other dates for the series are Oct. 7, Municipal Parking Lot, next to the Gazebo.
14, 21 and 28. The series will be taught by Onion Attendees can bring their lawn chairs. The
Man Productions founder and managing artistic two-hour concert begins at 7 p.m. For more
director James Beck. information, visit www.stonemountaincity.org.
For more information and to register for the
course, visit www.onionmanproductions.com/
adult-programs.
CLARKSTON
Clarkston mayor
stronger and healthier than ever before.
Starting Sept. 18, MARTA will have a new deputy
general manager. Arthur Troupe, a former Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) executive,
DeKalb County officials held a press conference on Sept. 8 to update Tree limbs and debris accumulating in Avondale Estates. Photo by John Hewitt
residents on Hurricane Irma.
FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
Publisher: Photographer: STATEMENT FROM THE
John Hewitt Travis Hudgons
PUBLISHER
Chief Financial Officer: Staff Reporters: We sincerely appreciate the
discussion surrounding this and any
Let Us Know What You Think! Dr. Earl D. Glenn Carla Parker issue of interest to DeKalb County.
SEND LETTERS TO EDITOR, R. Scott Belzer The Champion was founded in 1991
THE DEKALB FREE PRESS encourages opinions from Production Manager: Horace Holloman expressly to provide a forum for
The DeKalb Free Press, discourse for all community residents
its readers. Please write to us and express your views. P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Kemesha Wadley on all sides of an issue. We have no
Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain the 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
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 Page 8
Darrow Brown, 49, and Laura Whitesell, 33, were convicted of child cruelty for
starving and beating children.
WEEKinPICTURES
More than 3,000 middle school students from DeKalb County School District participated in a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) rally on Sept 8 at Hallford
Stadium in Clarkston. Photo courtesy of DCSD.
DECATUR
Hate Free Decatur along with local chapters of the NAACP and Black Lives Matter held a press conference to ask government officials to remove the Confederate monument located in downtown Decatur.
Approximately 70 members of Lakeside High Schools marching band participated in the 2017 Dragon Con Parade on Sept. 2, the only Atlanta high school to do so. Photo submitted
The
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YOUTH FOOTBALL
Former University of Florida quarterback and Heisman trophy winner Danny Wuerffel is a coach within the program. Photo by Travis Hudgons
FOOTBALL
T
advantage is we have
he Stephenson two quarterbacks that
Jaguars outscored we work in tandem, he
the Southwest said. So sometimes one
DeKalb Panthers [quarterback] will play
31-12 in the and sometimes the other
second half to beat their will play. Were just glad to
rival 31-18 on Sept. 8 at have two that can play. Its
Hallford Stadium. not about Parker, its not
The Jaguars went about Wray, its about them
into halftime down 6-0. working together.
Stephenson received On the Jaguars first
the ball at the start of offensive drive of the
the half and cornerback second half, Parker hit
Ira Henderson gave his wide receiver Deshon
team the spark it needed Stoudemire on a slant pass
by returning the opening and Stoudemire ran 56
kickoff for a touchdown, yards to the end zone for a
tying the score at 6-6. touchdown. Tisdale kicked
Darian Tisdale kicked the extra point to extend Deshon Stoudemire out runs a pair of Southwest DeKalb defenders on a 56 yard touchdown reception. Photo by Travis
the extra point to give the Stephensons lead to 14-6. Hudgons
Jaguars a 7-6 lead. Southwest DeKalb
Assistant head coach responded with a
Donald Sellers said the touchdown drive. Tomlin
OTHER SCORES
touchdown on the kickoff connected with wide
return was the play that receiver Tommy Wright on
turned the game around a 27-yard touchdown pass.
for them. The Panthers tried to go for
We had an emotional the two-point conversion,
swing then and it got our but was unsuccessful,
kids motivated, Sellers said. leaving the score at 14-12.
They rallied behind that In the fourth quarter,
positive motivation and the Jaguars extended their
we were able to maintain it lead to 21-12 when Parker
and keep it going. and Stoudemire connected
Both teams struggled again on a touchdown
to hold onto the football pass, this time for 16 yards.
in the first half with both Running back Deondre
teams committing two Jackson extended the lead
turnovers each. Southwest to 28-12 on a 21-yard run.
DeKalb scored the only Southwest DeKalb
touchdown in the first responded again with a 17-
half on a 9-yard pass from yard touchdown pass from
quarterback Justin Tomlin Tomlin to wide receiver
Photo by Travis Hudgons
to wide receiver Michael Aquil Muhammed. The
Pace. The extra point was Panthers were unsuccessful Sept. 8 Open
no good, leaving the score again on the two-point Cedar Grove (3-0) 33, Columbia (2-2) 0 Chamblee (1-2)
at 6-0. conversion attempt,
When the Jaguars Lakeside (1-2) 53, Druid Hills (0-3) 0 Decatur (1-2)
leaving the score 28-18.
offense took the field in the A field goal by Tisdale Marist (3-0) 17, St. Pius X (0-3) 14 Cross Keys (0-1)
second half, Darren Parker with 1:01 left to play Dacula (1-2) 9, Arabia Mountain (3-1) 0 Lithonia (1-2)
came in at quarterback, brought the final score North Atlanta (3-0) 14, Dunwoody (2-1) 0 M.L. King (1-2)
replacing Gavon Wray, to 31-18. This was the
who played in the first sixth consecutive year Salem (2-1) 35, Miller Grove (2-2) 6 Redan (1-2)
half and couldnt get the Stephenson (1-2) has Stone Mountain (1-2)
Jaguars in the end zone. defeated Southwest Sept. 9 Towers (1-2)
Sellers said Wray wasnt DeKalb (2-2) in this rivalry.
replaced because of his Clarkston (1-3) 34, South Atlanta (0-4) 0 Tucker (2-1)
Stephenson is 9-5 overall
inability to move the against Southwest DeKalb. Therrell (1-3) 8, McNair (2-1) 0
offense.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 Page 20
Year of
Progress
continues
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Brookhaven is continuing its mission to improve
city parks in what city officials have dubbed the
Year of Progress.
Mayor John Ernst, City Councilman John
Park and others broke ground Sept. 7 on phase
Brookhaven city officials broke ground on phase I of improvements to Georgian Hills Park. Photo by Carla Parker
I of improvements to Georgian Hills Park on East
Georgian Drive. In July, the Brookhaven City Council
approved the $1.2 million improvement project dollars and I hope we make you proud, Park said to There will be designated parking space for electric
for the 3.6-acre park, which will include an open residents in attendance. cars with an electric charging station.
field with Bermuda turf, an irrigation system and a Georgian Hills joins three other parks/ Ernst said the city will also soon break ground
walking trail that extends around the open space greenspaces that are being constructed in the city. on the improvement project for Murphey Candler
field. In July, the city demolished the Skyland Center on Park. The park will get a new open space and
Today is the next chapter of our summer/fall Skyland Drive to make way for a new state-of-the- playground. Ernst said the city has also purchased
progress of our parks as we continue the rest of this art park. Skyland Park will feature sand volleyball 33 acres of greenspace near DeKalb-Peachtree
year getting these park improvements done, Ernst courts, picnic shelters, dog parks, a new restroom Airport last April. The property, located west of
said. facility, a playground area and a large open space Clairmont Road at the intersection with Tobey Road,
Georgian Hills Park also will have a new field. contains mature trees, a stream, wildlife and native
playground, picnic shelter and a basketball half- There also will be two additional shade plants.
court. A redesigned parking lot will be ADA structures that will serve as device charging stations Its been a great year so far with our park
compliant and improvements will be made to the for the public. The shade structures will be made improvements and bringing the promise of that to
sidewalk that runs along Clairmont Road. of material that will incorporate solar panels, which our citizens, Ernst said.
Were doing stuff. Were doing it with your tax will allow park visitors to charge electronic devices.