the DeKalb
42 FREE
Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest and Tucker
Gift of giving
Hosea Helps hosted its annual turkey drop-off event at the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office loading dock Nov. 9.
Hosea Helps hosts annual turkey drop off
by Horace Holloman
horace@dekalbchamp.com
I
ts that time of year again
in DeKalb County. On
Nov. 9, nonprofit orga-
nization Hosea Helps
hosted its annual great turkey
drop off at the DeKalb County
Sheriffs Office jail.
For nearly two decades,
Hosea Helps has used the
facilities of DeKalb County
to prepare its Thanksgiving
meals. This year will be the
organizations 48th Thanks-
giving meal, which are usually
held at the Georgia World
Congress Center in downtown
Atlanta.
According to DeKalb Sher-
iffs Office officials, the jail has
one of the largest industrial
kitchens in the southeast.
We just want to thank
the DeKalb County Sheriffs
Visit www.championnewspaper.com for local, real DeKalb County news.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 VOL. 22, NO.
Office, said Hosea Helps
CEO Elisabeth Omilami.
We could not cook for 5,000
to 6,000 people each event
without this kitchen. We would
have a hard time finding
somewhere to go. They are
critical to our efforts.
Every year in the jails
kitchen volunteers prepare the
turkeys that are distributed for
Hoseas annual Thanksgiving
meal. Hundreds of volunteers
start early the day before
Thanksgiving preparing nearly
500 turkeys.
The sheriffs office and
Hosea Helps have been in
partnership for the last 20
years and we have partnered
with them without hesitation,
said Maj. R. Akies. We ap-
preciate these sponsors who
have sponsored food items
for the Hosea Helps program
and were happy that we have
massive storage for these
food items.
DeKalb County jail officials
said volunteers will work up to
11 p.m. on Nov. 22 preparing
food for Thanksgiving.
During the press confer-
ence, the organization re-
ceived several donations,
including a $10,000 check
from Kroger and a $50,000
check from 411-Pain. Hosea
Helps recently relocated its
headquarters after rent at its
old location doubled to $8,000
a month.
These are not donors that
we could do without. Some
donations you can say we
can do without, but without
these donors there would be
no Hosea Helps Holiday Fes-
tival, Omilami said. We need
the help. Especially this year
because we were displaced
from our 26-year location.
A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS
Sexual harassment
investigation cost DeKalb
more than $23,000
Wright Adams
by Horace Holloman
horace@dekalbchamp.com
O
n the DeKalb County Board of
Commissioners official website,
Ashlee Wright is still listed
as the primary contact for
Commissioner Gregory Adams.
However, its unlikely Wright will return
to work for Adams after she accused
the District 7 commissioner of sexual
harassment.
The county paid Nelson Mullins
Riley and Scarborough LLP $23,240
to investigate the allegations and
concluded that Adams violated the
countys anti-harassment policy. The
company suggested Adams attend sexual
harassment training.
Former DeKalb County
District Attorney Robert James, who is
representing Wright in her lawsuit against
the county, said the county needs to do
more than send Adams to sexual harass-
ment training.
We are pleased that they confirmed
what we already knew, which is Adams
violated the sexual harassment policy...a
policy I am very familiar with, James
said. Were disappointed that they
minimized what he did to my client. This is
quintessential sexual harassment but [the
investigation] says he wasnt aggressive.
We disagree and thats why we have
a judicial system. Im disappointed in
DeKalb. They had a chance to make this
right.
According to documents provided by
the county and Nelson Mullins, Adams
claimed that some of his behavior was due
to a prescription medication.
While attending a conference in
See Investigation on page 5
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 2

COUNTYWIDE

Last year, DeKalb County School District was criticized for holding graduations outside of DeKalb DeKalb County School District announced plans on Oct. 30, to hold high school graduations at the
county. Photo by R. Scott Belzer Georgia World Congress Center for the second consecutive year.

DeKalb County graduations return

to Georgia World Congress Center
BY R. SCOTT BELZER
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
All 23 high schools in
DeKalb County School
District (DCSD) will have three
hours each to conduct their
2017-2018 commencement
ceremonies at the Georgia
World Congress Center
(GWCC), according to a recent
release.
On Oct. 30, DCSD
released its 2017-2018
commencement schedule,
which will take place May 21
through May 26. Schools will
have three-hour blocks at 10
a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m.
On May 21, the order
of schools will be Lithonia,
Elizabeth Andrews,
Dunwoody and Chamblee.
On May 22, the order
will be Lakeside, Southwest
DeKalb, Miller Grove and
Druid Hills.
On May 23, Destiny
Academy will go first,
followed by Arabia Mountain,
Stone Mountain and DeKalb
Early College Academy.
On May 24, the order
will be McNair, Columbia,
Redan and Clarkston. Last
year, Clarkston graduated
on campus after inclement
weather prevented the
ceremony from taking place
at Hallford Stadium.
On May 25, the order of
schools will be Stephenson,
Towers and Cross Keys. Last
year, Cross Keys High School
students graduated at Adams
Stadium.
GWCC is located at 285
Andrew Young International
Blvd., N.W., in Atlanta.
In October 2016, DCSD
announced it would hold its
commencement ceremonies times for people to be getting time, when parents could
at GWCC. Several students, out of work to attend a high be earning a living or when
parents and teachers voiced school graduation, Sobczak brothers and sisters could still
opposition to the decision said ironically. But thats what be getting their educational
because of GWCCs distance were asking parents to do. experience? Im not sure it
from schools. During the school week, were can be changed at this point,
On Nov. 6, Southwest asking parents and students but definitely for 2018-2019,
DeKalb teacher Daniel to drop everything else they we need to make sure we are
Sobczak spoke at DCSDs are doing to attend our high looking at the interests of all
board of education meeting, school graduations. Im really stakeholders when setting
citing similar concerns. wondering where this plan these [schedules].
Monday, 10 a.m. Tuesday came from and why we are
10 a.m. Monday 1 p.m. doing this during the school
these all sound like good day. Why do this during work
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
CITY OF LITHONIA, GEORGIA
FISCAL YEAR 2018 (FY18) BUDGET REVIEW AND ADOPTION
(JANUARY 1, 2018 DECEMBER 31, 2018)
PUBLIC HEARING ON FY18 BUDGET: A Public Hearing on the FY18 Budget is scheduled
for Monday, December 4, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the
City Hall Chambers located at 6920 Main Street, Lithonia, GA 30058. At this meeting,
the Mayor and Council will receive both written and oral comments about the Annual
Operating and Capital Budget for the City of Lithonia, Georgia.

Notice of Budget Public Hearing and
2018 Budget Adoption
Clarkston City Council
The Clarkston Council will hold a Public Hearing
on Tuesday, November 28, 2017, starting at 6:30pm,
Clarkston City Hall, 3921 Church Street for the purpose
of taking public comment on the 2018 Proposed City
of Clarkston Budget. The Council will hold a second
Public Hearing on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, starting
at 7:30pm, Clarkston City Hall, 3921 Church Street for
the purpose of additional public comment on the 2018
Proposed City of Clarkston Budget. The Council will
vote to adopt the Clarkston 2018 Budget at their regular
Council Meeting on December 5, 2017 at 7:30pm. The
public is invited to attend.
The Public Hearing on the Budget will be followed by the Council Meeting at 7 p.m. in
the Council Chamber.
MAYORS RECOMMENDED BUDGET AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW: The FY18 Mayors
Recommended Budget will be available for public inspection during normal office
hours starting on November 20, 2017 at the following locations as well as on the Citys
website at www.cityoflithoniaga.org:
Lithonia City Hall, 6920 Main Street, Lithonia GA 30058
Lithonia-Davidson Library, 6821 Church Street, Lithonia GA 30058
BUDGET REVIEW: The Mayor and Council of the City of Lithonia are scheduled to
review the FY18 Mayors Recommended Budget on the following dates:
Monday, December 4, 2017 (7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 6920 Main Street)
Monday, December 18, 2017 (6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 6920 Main Street)
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 3

AROUNDDEKALB
AVONDALE Stone Mountain Elementary, Freedom Middle
School, Stone Mountain Middle, Clarkston High
Financial literacy workshop announced

ESTATES
Avon Garden Club to host breakfast
The Avon Garden Club will host a sausage
and pancake breakfast Nov. 18 at Avondale
Community Club from 8 to 11 a.m. Tickets
are $7 per adult, $5 per child age 6-10, $3
per child age 3-5 and free for children under
3. Tickets can be purchased from any Avon
Garden Club member, or by calling (404)
297-9893. The Avondale Community Club is
located at 59 Lakeshore Drive in Avondale
Estates.
and Stone Mountain High.
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) officials
are expected to present potential plans for
redistricting on Nov. 30.
DCSD will host another discussion on Jan. 11,
2018 before presenting a final plan for approval to
the DeKalb County board of education in February
2018.
DORAVILLE
Celebrate the season at City Hall
The public is invited to celebrate the holiday
season with Doraville city officials Dec. 1 and 2.
Doraville City Halllocated at 3725 Park
Ave.will open the holiday season with the
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 1 at 6:30
Stone Mountain resident Arlene Fitts Winfrey,
a speaker for Georgia Watch, will present a
financial literacy workshop on Nov. 18 from 10:30
a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Stone Mountain-Sue
Kellogg Library, 952 Leon St. in Stone Mountain.
Participants will hear about the common causes of
debt, how to avoid debt, plans for getting out of
debt and their debt collection rights, according to
a release about the event.
Winfrey retired from Tucker High School where
she taught family and consumer sciences. She is
a recipient of many honors and awards and is a
member of the American Association of Family
and Consumer Sciences and a past president of
the National Coalition for Black Development in
Family and Consumer Sciences.

BROOKHAVEN p.m. Mayor Donna Pittman will light a 18-foot

Light Up Brookhaven
Brookhaven will host its annual Light
Up Brookhaven event Nov. 30, 6-8 p.m. at
Blackburn Park. The free event will feature
musical performances, visits with Santa,
holiday crafts, hot chocolate sale, refreshments,
Christmas tree lighting and a Hanukkah display.
The park is located at 3493 Ashford Dunwoody
Road. For more information, visit www.
brookhavenga.gov.
Christmas tree decorated with ornaments from TUCKER
many cultures.
The event will also feature a smores making
pit, a Panamanian marching band, Chinese yo-yo
performers, a light show, holiday movies, chorales,
singers from the U.S. Marine Corps and the arrival
of Santa Claus.
On Dec. 2, the Doraville Library will host a
Santas Workshop event, a classic Mustang car
display, storytelling, arts & crafts, informational
booths and other activities geared toward the
whole family.
Events will take place at the Doraville Library
from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
For more information, visit www.doravillega.us.

CLARKSTON STONE MOUNTAIN Smoke Rise Academy of Arts to present

Clarkston High to host second redistricting
talk
Clarkston High Schoollocated at 618 N.
Indian Creek Drivewill host a second round of
discussions regarding possible redistricting in
the Stone Mountain and Clarkston High School
clusters on Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m.
Schools expected to be impacted by the
possible redistricting include Allgood Elementary
l, Dunaire Elementary, Hambrick Elementary,
Indian Creek Elementary, Jolly Elementary,
Rockbridge Elementary, Stone Mill Elementary,
City to host annual Christmas parade event
Stone Mountain Village will hold its annual
Christmas parade and fireworks event Nov. 24
from 4 to 7 p.m. The event will include childrens
activities, marshmallow roasting, hot chocolate
and fireworks. All restaurants, shops and art
galleries will be open for shopping. For more
information, call Kim Cumbie at (770) 630-1727.
holiday show
The Smoke Rise Academy of Arts will
present its holiday show at Smoke Rise Baptist
Church on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 1: p.m. The
event will showcase students of the academy
with ensembles, solos, instrumentals, singing,
dancing and drama.
The show is free to the public, no tickets
required.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 4

DECATUR

NEW SIGNAGE A GO FOR

DRUID HILLS MIDDLE
More than $11k approved
via PTA, school district
BY R. SCOTT BELZER which will be placed on the
schools gymnasium, will read,
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com Druid Hills Middle School
as well as International
Students, teachers and
Baccalaureate World School.
staff at Druid Hills Middle
The $8,600 will cover the
Schoollocated at 3100 Mt.
cost of letter manufacturing
Olive Drive in Decaturcan
and the $2,875 will cover
look forward to new signage
the cost of manual labor
celebrating the schools
for installation. APCO Signs,
accomplishments following
based in Atlanta, will install
approval of funds at a DeKalb
the signage over a six-month
County School District (DCSD)
period.
board of education meeting
Current signage at Druid
on Nov. 6.
Hills Middle includes two Druid Hills Middle School is scheduled to receive new lettering on the schools gymnasium following approval by DeKalb
Druid Hills Middle School, County School District Nov. 6. Photo rendering submitted.
marquees at the southeastern
now in its 50th year of
corner of the campus and
operation as a DeKalb County
east of the front lobby
school facility, currently
entrance. Druid Hills Middle School we believe is worthy of being administrative staff as well as
has no identifying signage
According to the Druid students who will take pride identified and promoted the PTA to facilitate a smooth
attached to the building
Hills Middle PTAs proposal, in identifying with their as an integral part of the installation.
itself, reads a proposal
the new signage will schoolhouse, but for families schoolhouse itself. Board member Marshall
drafted by Druid Hills Middles
underscore the importance of across DeKalb County and According to Joshua Orson asked Williams how
Parent-Teacher Association
learning and remind students [Georgia] who come to Druid Williams, chief operation many middle schools are still
(PTA).
of the pivotal role they play Hills for athletic events and officer for DCSD, the new without electronic signage.
Druid Hills Middle PTA
as international baccalaureate academic competitions, the signage aligns with the As were making
requested the board approve
learners. The PTA also states proposal states. That Druid districts vision of supplying renovations specifically
a donation of $8,600 and
the signage will greatly Hills Middle is one of the few a safe and healthy learning under E-SPLOST V, we will be
dedicate $2,875 of district
enhance the beauty and middle schools in the greater environment. He said the going back to modify existing
funds to building affixed
stature of the building. metro area with International facilities maintenance marquee signs for digital and
signage to the schools
[This is] not just for Baccalaureate authorization, department will work closely electric, Williams said.
entrance. The new signage,
is a point of distinction that with Druid Hills Middle

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LOCAL
PRISM appealing for cash
for recognition event
by Gale Horton Gay
An annual event to show
appreciation for police officers
and firefighters is in need of one
element for its continuation
money.
The 19th Annual Police
Appreciation Luncheon put on
by Pride Rings Around Stone
Mountain (PRISM) is scheduled
for Dec. 15 at Georgia Perimeter
College, Clarkston Campus.
Police officers and support staff
of the Center/North DeKalb and
Tucker precincts; Stone Mountain,
Pine Lake and Clarkston police
departments and Georgia
Perimeter College Security are
invited to the event.
The annual Police Appreciation Luncheon held last yea attracted a crowd of police
officers. The 19th annual event put on by Pride Rings Around Stone Mountain will be
held on Dec. 15. Photos by Doug Yancey
However, one event organizer
Betty Efird said cash donations
are desperately needed to ensure
that the event takes place.
I think that after 9/11 gradually
it got to the pointthey just dont
feel as compelled to give, she
said.
Efird said that when she
attended past luncheons officers
often heard it was the only time of
the year that officers were thanked
for their efforts.
A holiday-style meal is served
at the luncheon with such foods
as turkey, ham, dressing, green
beans and an array of 25 different
desserts, according to Efird.
In past years, gift cards also
were distributed to fire stations in
DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 5
INVESTIGATION
Continued From Page 1
Savannah in April,
Adams invited himself to
Wrights hotel room at 3
a.m. He also requested
to see Wright in a bikini.
According to
documents from the
investigation, Adams
maintains that he had
taken a [prescription
drug] which he believes
may have caused him
to do or say things he
would not normally. He
asked Wright about the
text and explained that
he was on [prescription
medication] and not in
his right mind, to which
Wright responded,
dont worry about it
commissioner; I know
youre playing.
Wright, who worked
for former DeKalb
County Commissioner
Sharon Barnes-Sutton,
is seeking a $750,000
from the county to settle
out of court.
Im not a doctor and
Im not a psychiatrist.
All I know is what the
text message said. At
3:29 in the morning he
sent a very detailed
text message and while
under the influence, he
selected her number,
choose to contact her
and was clear enough
to write a few sentences
that was grammatically
correct, James said. At
some point, someone
other than me will have
to judge his veracity.
what the group refers to as the Although the
heart of DeKalb, but not last year countys independent
due to lack of funds. investigation confirmed
PRISM is seeking donations Adams violated
of cash from individuals and DeKalbs anti-
businesses and gift cards from harassment policy,
corporations such as gas stations Wright has not received
and grocery stores. Efird is an apology from Adams
encouraging groups such as or any county official,
garden clubs, civic associations James said.
and neighborhood groups also to Ashlee Wright was
make donations. harassed and was
Checks should be made out humiliated. We believe
to PRISM and sent to the event thats worth more than
chairman Tony Nastri, P.O. Box him having to go to
2478, Stone Mountain, GA 30086. sexual harassment
Inquiries about the event training, James said.
should be made to Nastri at (404)
333-8669.
OPINION DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 6

Turning sexual misconduct revelations into teachable moments

In the last few weeks,
theres been a barrage of
high-visibility accusations of
sexual harassment involving
celebrities. It started with
Harvey Weinstein, a powerful
and one-time highly regarded
movie studio head, whos been
accused by scores of women of
being sexually inappropriate in a
number of ways.
Accusations by women
and some men soon followed
of similar bad, and possibly,
criminal behavior by other
actors, directors and Hollywood
executives. Kevin Spacey
and Dustin Hoffman are two
Hollywood A-listers whove
issued apologies, which some
say were vague and half-
hearted, after they too were
accused of sexual improprieties.
It didnt take long for claims
Gale Horton Gay
gale@dekalbchamp.com
of groping, inappropriate sexual
comments, unwanted touching
to be lodged against other
individuals including college
professors and business
executives.
Some incidents related to the
alleged misconduct occurred
decades ago, some far more
recent. In October, the principal
of Mary McLeod Bethune Middle
School in Decatur was placed
on administrative leave after
serious employee misconduct
that reportedly involved groping
a school district employee.
The mounting number of
accusations has opened a
window, making it clear that
women have been and continue
to face unwanted sexual
attention when they are striving
to gain professional experience,
make meaningful contributions
and earn respect as members of
society.
These accusations will be
played out in a number of ways:
public debate, settlements
hammered out in law offices and
some resolved in courtrooms.
What we can do, aside from
simply giving lip service to the
current and future revelations,
is start conversations with our
young peopleboys and girls
about the issue of appropriate
behavior at home, school and in
the workplace.
We should tell them its not
OK for anyone to touch them
sexually, attempt to coerce them
into a sexual relationship, make
personal sexual comments/
innuendos or question them
about their sex life.
Young people need to be
advised that adultsteachers,
coaches, employers, pastors
(anyone a position of power
or influence over them) are
expected to act respectfully
and appropriate in their
interactions with them. If they
cross the line, they should be
reported to parents, teachers,
administrators, human resources
and, if necessary, the police.
Just as we teach our children
what to do in other challenging
life situations, we must empower
them to know what to expect
and how to react if they ever
encounter sexual improprieties.

Subscribe to The Champion Newspaper

To subscribe, visit TheChampionNewspaper.com or call 404-373-7779
OPINION
I first started playing soc-
cer on a YMCA team at age
7. My brother Brian and I
usually played on the same
team.Through elementary and
high school, our Hawks and later
Chiefs won several county and
regional championships.About
the same time, Atlanta got its
first professional soccer team,
also The Chiefsaligned in that
day with the Atlanta Braves and
playing initially at Atlanta-Fulton
County stadium. The long season
often meant cold or wet Saturday
afternoons and evenings from
summer through late fall, with the
baseball diamond still clearly vis-
ible on the field.
Several soccer franchises,
including an indoor arena league
and a womens team have come,
lasted a bit and then moved on
from the Atlanta marketwith
varying degrees of successde-
spite decades of built-in fanbase
across the region.
And now it appears that one
owner and one team have finally
developed the winning recipe,
Major League Soccers (MLS)
Atlanta United, which just com-
pleted its inaugural season with
a playoff berth.Atlanta United
set league records in both atten-
dance and average game ticket
sales.They are only the second
team in the history of the 22-team
league to make it to the playoffs
during their expansion season.
Atlanta United is owned and
managed by the AMB Group,
which also owns the Atlanta
Falcons and the new Mercedes
Benz Stadium, as well as other
holdings.AMB CEO Arthur
Blank brought resources to play
and has made a major invest-
ment, which is another key ele-
ment of this teams success,
compared to prior attempts at
professional soccer team launch-
es in the ATL.
The team started their season
at Georgia Techs Bobby Dodd
Stadium, which had the dual
FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
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DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 7
United we stand
purchase seats all over the sta-
One Mans dium for a fraction of the cost of
Opinion a Falcons game, personal seat
license or season ticket.My pair
for the entire seasonand Ive
Bill Crane already paid for next yearruns
bill.csicrane@gmail.com
roughly what you might spend
for a family of four on two or
three Falcons home games.This
ironies of being sold out for virtu- United fan base is energized,
ally every match, typically not the constantly attired in red and black
case with much of the Tech foot- striped spirit wear and stands for
ball season, and having this sta- almost the entire game. AU flags
dium draped in the AUs red and dot the city scape.
black colors and banners was a With no TV or other timeouts,
particularly sweet sight for this the game is two intense 45-min-
Georgia Bulldog fan.And after ute halves, with overtime and
Mercedes Benz Stadium opened, shootouts ending time blocks and
Atlanta United moved into its new deciding victors during the play-
home. offs in the event of a tie game,
The Atlanta Falcons NFL which is also not unusual in soc-
team will play roughly a dozen cer.Atlanta United twice beat ri-
Sundays each season in this vals Columbus Crew from central
stadium, and now Atlanta United, Ohio, but fell in the final moments
which sells out more frequently of a penalty kick shootout by a
that its older winged sibling, will single successful penalty kick into
more than double that number of the goal box during the playoffs.
home stands, including Saturday Our team roster reads like a
and several mid-week games. United Nations delegate meet-
In addition, with this stadium, ing.Player countries of origin
the Falcons take the adjacent range from America to the United
parking concessions and a piece Kingdom, Argentina, Canada,
of every hot dog, beer and Chick Mexico, Ireland, Greece, Chile,
Fil A sandwich sold in the new Paraguay, Uruguay and Guinea.
facility.Twenty-four or thirty mega As one might expect, this
events generate millions more team of Americans and immi-
than a dozen. grants, many in the process of
Atlanta United founders could
Publisher: Photographer:
John Hewitt Travis Hudgons
Chief Financial Officer: Staff Reporters:
Dr. Earl D. Glenn Carla Parker
SEND LETTERS TO EDITOR, R. Scott Belzer
Production Manager: Horace Holloman
The DeKalb Free Press,
P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Kemesha Wadley
Send email to Johnh@dekalbchamp.com
FAX To: (404) 370-3903; Phone: (404) 373-7779. The DeKalb Free Press is published each Friday
Deadline for news releases and advertising: by ACE III Communications, Inc.,
Thursday, one week prior to publication date. 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030
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DISPLAY ADVERTISING (404) 373-7779 x 110
becoming citizens, all stand at
attention and with respect dur-
ing our Pledge of Allegiance and
national anthem. Not to politi-
cize this column, but it is again
refreshing to see something so
simple and symbolic as a source
of inspiration and unity versus di-
vision and conflict.
Though one of the United
Kingdoms most successful ex-
ports to the United States, the
game is not yet everyones cup
of tea. I gifted many pairs of tick-
ets to clients, friends and family
this season, as I will likely do in
future years; and each and every
attendee has had nothing but
compliments and cheers for their
experience and day in the stands.
United, we stand. Give them
a try, I can almost assure you that
youll get a kick out of it.
Bill Crane also serves as a
political analyst and commentator
for Channel 2s Action News,
WSB-AM News/Talk 750 and
now 95.5 FM, as well as a
columnist for The Champion,
DeKalb Free Press and Georgia
Trend. Crane is a DeKalb native
and business owner, living in
Scottdale. You can reach him
or comment on a column at bill.
csicrane@gmail.com.
STATEMENT FROM THE
PUBLISHER
We sincerely appreciate the
discussion surrounding this and any
issue of interest to DeKalb County.
The Champion was founded in 1991
expressly to provide a forum for
discourse for all community residents
on all sides of an issue. We have no
desire to make the news only to
report news and opinions to effect
a more educated citizenry that will
ultimately move our community
forward. We are happy to present
ideas for discussion; however,
we make every effort to avoid
printing information submitted to
us that is known to be false and/or
assumptions penned as fact.
LOCAL
BROOKHAVEN
Members of the Lakeside High School community are voicing opposition to proposed expansions nearly one year after they were approved. Photo by R. Scott Belzer
LAKESIDE EXPANSION CHALLENGED
Parents, board member speak against 750-seat, 38-classroom, two-story addition
BY R. SCOTT BELZER
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
A group of community stakeholders
from the Lakeside High School attendance
area have united to oppose the schools
scheduled expansion.
The expressed opposition is in response
to the planned construction of a two-story,
750-seat, 38-classroom addition as well as
a three-story parking garage.
The project is part of DeKalb County
School Districts (DCSD) E-SPLOST V list,
which also calls for the expansion of
Chamblee Charter High and Dunwoody
High. DCSD hosted more than 20 public
meetings during an 18-month period
about items on the list beginning in 2015,
including several on additions and new
facilities.
On Nov. 4, DCSD board of education
member Stan Jester published a letter on
his blog from members of the Lakeside
High community. The letter states DCSD
should rethink its decision on five factors:
Lakeside High Schools student population
has already increased to its breaking
point; too few residents are aware of the
decision; the DeKalb County Commission
recommended a new high school; the
expansion will negatively impact the
student experience; and watershed
flooding issues will impact student safety.
Rather than expand Lakeside,
Chamblee and Dunwoody, the letter
suggests the board halt planned
expansion actions to listen to community
DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 8
concerns; provide more time for
stakeholders to understand what has been
decided and why; and prepare to reopen
discussions with the goal of adopting
long-term solutions.
We stand ready to take on much of
the work required to get people out to
learn from our BOE officials, the DCSD
administration, and other experts who
best understand the issues, the letter
concludes. Further, the school districts
own enrollment projections show that
these schools will be at capacity when
these expansions are complete and to our
knowledge, there is no identified plan for
additional growth. This fact heightens our
assessment that this is the right time to
stop and ensure longer-term solutions are
considered so that our students will be
inspired and able to achieve [the districts]
vision of educational excellence.
The letter was addressed to DCSDs
board of education, the DeKalb County
Board of Commissioners, CEO Michael
Thurmond, the Lakeside High school
administration, SPLOST oversight
committee, members of DeKalb Countys
Planning, Development & Public Works
department, as well as DCSD chief
operations officer Joshua Williams,
executive director of operations Daniel
Drake and Region 2 superintendent Trent
Arnold.
Jester introduced the letter by stating,
Various residents and civic associations
have caught wind of the 750-seat
expansion project and are doing the
SEE LAKESIDE ON PAGE 14A
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 9

COUNTYWIDE

Veterans group
urges CEO to
take action
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com

Its an issue that retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Amos

King holds near and dear to his heartthe safety of
veterans in DeKalb County.
King said veterans with mental health issues are at
risk while in DeKalb County because the county police
department hasnt established a set of guidelines to
deal with mental illness under CEO Michael Thurmond.
The group Justice for Veterans held a rally outside
the DeKalb County courthouse on Nov. 11.
King said the situation involving the shooting
death of DeKalb resident Quintas Harris, 27, could
have ended differently if a plan was in place to address
veterans with mental illness. On Aug. 3 Harris, a veteran
who suffered from post traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, was killed
by DeKalb County Police officers after Harris opened fire
on officers, injuring one officer in the hand.
Officers also responded to a call at Harris residence
earlier in the day.
Something like this can happen again if they dont
do something, King said. Were going to keep pushing
and fighting for justice for veterans.
King also served as a spokesperson for Anthony
Hill, a DeKalb County man who was shot and killed by
a DeKalb County Police officer after officers responded
to a call of a naked man acting erratic outside of an
apartment complex. Hill, a veteran who was unarmed,
was shot by former DeKalb Officer Robert Olsen. Hills
family said he suffered from mental health issues.
King said the veterans group would like to meet
with Thurmond, but have yet to get a response.
If he doesnt want to meet with us thats his
prerogative, but hes going to have to answer to the
voters when the time comes, King said. Were not any
Joe Blows off the street. Were not coming in here with
our own personal agendas or trying to tell someone
how to do their jobs. We just want to help because
veterans can talk to veterans.
King said officials with the DeKalb County Police
Department (DKPD) said they are willing to meet with
the group. However, King said he wont meet with the
DKPD unless the CEO is present.
We want to hold [Thurmond] accountable because
we dont want there to be a situation where he says
he didnt know, King said. We want to talk about
prevention. We understand these veterans and we want
to help because something like this can happen again.
We want to stop the killing of veterans.
DeKalb County resident Amos King held a justice for veterans rally outside the DeKalb County Courthouse on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

to The ChampionNewspaper
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 10

COUNTYWIDE

ROTC students participated in marching, spinning rifles, brandishing sabers and meticulously standing Career Technology & Agriculture Education (CTAE) Director Delmas Watkins explained the
at attention at DeKalb County School Districts Administrative Complex & Instructional Center in Stone importance of ROTC programs in local high schools.
Mountain.

ROTC programs focus on character development, citizenship, self-confidence, mental toughness and physical discipline.

Veterans Day celebrated

by DeKalb schools
More than 500 JROTC cadets host
districtwide drill to honor military
BY R. SCOTT BELZER
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
By the break of dawn on Nov. 10,
students from throughout DeKalb County
were arriving at DeKalb County School
Districts (DCSD) Administrative Complex
& Instructional Centerlocated at 1701
Mountain Industrial Boulevard in Stone
Mountainto honor veterans.
More than 500 DCSD Junior Reserve
Officer Training Corps (JROTC) cadets
participated in a district-wide drill and review
in observance of Veterans Day.
JROTC programs are military-themed
electives and co-curricular activities at
high schools nationwide. Representing
various branches of the militaryNavy,
Army, Air Force and Marinesthe programs
typically emphasize character development,
citizenship, self-confidence, mental
DeKalb County School Districts 19 Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps toughness and physical discipline.
(JROTC) programs united on Nov. 9 to honor local veterans through a On Nov. 9, dressed in pressed uniforms,
districtwide drill and review. Photos by R. Scott Belzer DCSD cadets participated in marching,
spinning rifles, brandishing sabers and
meticulously positioning their bodies to
stand at attention. For nearly two hours,
students demonstrated such activities while
being thoroughly reviewed by teachers and
military personnel.
After being reviewed, JROTC programs
from Arabia Mountain, Cedar Grove,
Chamblee, Redan, Clarkston, Columbia,
Miller Grove, Stone Mountain, Cross Keys,
Dunwoody, Druid Hills, Towers, Lakeside,
Lithonia, MLK, Tucker, McNair, Southwest
DeKalb and Stephenson united in a mass
formation across the administration offices
sizeable parking lot.
The event concluded with an explanation
of what JROTC is and what it can bring
to students lives by Career Technology &
Agriculture Education Director Delmas
Watkins, recognition of veterans past,
present and future, as well as closing remarks
from DCSD superintendent R. Stephen
Green.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 11

WEEKinPICTURES

DeKalb County School District honored its district psychologists on Nov. 6 during a regularly scheduled monthly
board of education meeting. Photo courtesy of DeKalb County School District.

Decatur is in the Christmas spirit early with reefs lining the streets of the city. Photo by
Carla Parker

DeKalb County Fire E-1, also known as the Emory Guard, participated in an elevator rescue at the Emory Briarcliff
building on Nov. 8. Photo courtesy of Shane Shifflett.

Doretta Fleet-Thomas and Andrea Mukoko of Margaret Harris Comprehensive School were named as 2017 March The Arabia Mountain High School marching band performed at the Stonecrest City Hall
of Dimes Georgia Nurse of the Year finalists on Nov. 3. Photo courtesy of DeKalb County School District. grand opening Nov. 11.

Have you created programming youd like to air on TV?

Do you have an interest in Public Access TV in DeKalb County?
Submit your show to DeKalb Countys 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
COUNTYWIDE
DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond addresses a crowd at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse in Decatur.
Tax increase celebrated
County, city officials celebrate SPLOST referendum
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
The voters of DeKalb
County have spoken and
the majority, approximately
70 percent, said they want
to raise taxes to provide
improvements to public
safety and roads.
A day after the election,
county and city officials
celebrated the outcome of
the Special Purpose Local
Option Sales Tax (SPLOST)
referendum with a luncheon
and press conference at the
Historic DeKalb Courthouse
in downtown Decatur.
SPLOST will raise the sales
tax in DeKalb County from
7 percent to 8 percent and
generate more than $600
million over the next six years.
Its the first time a SPLOST
has passed in DeKalb, said
DeKalb County CEO Michael
Thurmond.
For the first time in
DeKalb Countys history,
voters have approved a
blueprint for success with
the passage of the SPLOST,
said Thurmond. We take this
vote of trust seriously and will
continue to work with our city
partners on a better future.
More than $151 million
of the SPLOST proceeds will
be used for road resurfacing.
The tax will also fund new
fire stations and police cars
as well as the renovation of
parks, libraries, senior centers
and health centers.
We couldnt do this
without the support of the
men and women on our
county commission, said
Thurmond. Their support
and investment has helped
us secure a victory on this
SPLOST initiative.
DeKalb cities will receive
$249 million for projects
within their jurisdictions,
allocated by population. Each
city has its own project list.
More than $110 million
annually of the 1-cent
sales tax will go toward
residential property tax
relief. Homeowners will have
their tax assessments frozen
DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 12
as long as the SPLOST is in
effect. Unprepared food and
drugs are exempt from the
sales tax increase, according
to the legislation.
Seventy-percent [of
the vote]. That means the
people spoke and they did
not whisper, Commissioner
Larry Johnson said. This is
a great day in DeKalb. This is
all about us working together
and being transparent. Were
all in and were going to be a
one DeKalb.
DeKalb County firefighter
officials said theyre
excited about the SPLOST
referendum passing because
it means new facilities and
updated equipment for the
fire and rescue department
across the county.
We have to make this
happen and build quality
buildings in our community.
We need to make these
facilities state-of-the-art
facilities. We dont want to let
you down. This is all about
making the county better,
Johnson said.
DCSD Board member Stan Jester states the district allowing the Cedar Grove
High School softball team to kneel but not allowing his sons shirt is hypocritical.
Jester claims hypocrisy
at DeKalb schools
BY R. SCOTT BELZER
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County School
District (DCSD) board of
education member Stan Jester
posted claims of hypocrisy
against district officials on Nov.
10.
In October, a video
circulated through social media
and news outlets showing
the Cedar Grove High School
softball team taking a knee
during the national anthem.
A Cedar Grove student on
the team said the kneeling
was a protest to the flag,
stating, the flag doesnt mean
what its supposed to, to me.
The protest mirrors those
by former NFL quarterback
Colin Kaepernick, who
kneeled to draw attention
to the mistreatment of the
Black community by law
enforcement officials.
DCSD took a stance of
support for the team by
stating, If students should
elect to express their free
speech rights, we want to
create and provide a safe
space to do so. The goal is not
to interfere with the students
constitutional right to freedom
of speech.
District officials also stated
there would be no punishment
for the protest.
Shortly after the protests
were reported, Jester posted
about the protest on his blog.
Many Americans see
kneeling during the national
anthem as disrespectful. This
is arguably one step short of
burning the flag and is a slap
in the face to everyone who
has served to defend it, Jester
wrote. I advocate for the First
Amendment across the board.
I hope the freedom of students
to express themselves will be
vigilantly defended across
the political, religious, etc
spectrums.
Jester again referenced the
protest in a blog post about his
Stan Jesters son, Jaxon, was forced
to change a shirt that read Fake
News Network with an F on the
CNN logo before a field trip to CNN
headquarters, prompting a call of
hypocrisy.
son Jaxon on Nov. 10. Jester
states his son was forced to
change a shirt that reads, Fake
News Network with an F in
the CNN logo before a field
trip to CNN headquarters in
Atlanta.
The hypocrisy. This year
when the CNN tour was
announced, my seventh grade
son Jaxon asked me if he could
purchase an FNN-Fake News
Network shirt to wear for his
field trip. As an advocate for
the First Amendment, I agreed
to his request, Jester wrote.
He was fully aware of the
implications of his decision and
made the affirmative choice
to wear his shirt. We received a
phone call from the principal at
the middle school this morning
informing us that he was
forced to change his shirt.
Jester said the situation was
not held to the same standard
as the Cedar Grove softball
teams protest.
Im disappointed by the
hypocrisy of this decision,
he said. Some students are
celebrated when they make a
controversial display during the
National Anthem. My student
was forced to remove his
shirt because someone didnt
like it. I defend speech and
expression, even if I disagree,
or it makes me uncomfortable.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 13

STONECREST

MAYOR LARY:
No city like Stonecrest
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
As residents enjoyed
a block party Nov. 11
for the grand opening
of Stonecrests city hall,
Stonecrest officials basked
in the national exposure
thanks to a unique pitch
to bring a second Amazon
headquarters to the newly
formed city.
Stonecrests city hall,
located at 3120 Stonecrest
Boulevard, will serve as
offices for Stonecrest
officials and staff. The grand
opening ceremony featured
remarks from DeKalb County
commissioners Gregory
Adams and Mereda
Davis Johnson as well
as representative Hank
Johnson.
This is what makes a
city great. Having a group
of people [who] can work
together to move things
forward, Adams said.
Stonecrest officials
said the new city hall has
been years in the making.
Last year voters approved
to incorporate the city of
Stonecrest, which serves
approximately 50,000
residents and is the largest
city by population in the
county.
Weve been waiting for
this for four or five years.
This is the culmination of
five years of hard work and
I couldnt be happier for
the people of Stonecrest.
This is a big deal for us, said
Stonecrest assistant manager
Plez Joyner. This just goes
to show that this can be
done.
The grand opening
celebration featured
live music, food and
performances from the
Arabia Mountain High School
marching band.
Stonecrest is built for the
community and we wanted
this to be a community
event, Joyner said. Its a
community effort all the
way around. Welcome to
Stonecrest.
During the event,
Stonecrest officials took
a moment to address the
national exposure received
from the citys pitch to
lure a second Amazon
headquarters to the area.
If Amazon chooses

The city of Stonecrest held a grand opening ceremony for its city hall, located at
SEE STONECREST ON PAGE 20A 3120 Stonecrest Boulevard.

TUCKER

New councilwomen hopes to improve communication

BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Newly elected
Tucker District 1, Post 1
councilwoman Pat Soltys
understands that she cannot
start making changes right
away to improve the district
and the city.
However, one aspect
she said she hopes to
improve immediately is the
communication between the
residents of the district and its
representative.
The number one issue in
this campaign, which people
didnt understand, was
communication, Soltys said.
That was the number one
issue. Everything else paled
beside it. A lot of people tried
to make it about The Rise,
and it wasnt. It was about
communication. If you cant
have your representatives
communicate with you and
engage you then something
is wrong.
Soltys spoke with The
Champion two days after
her election victory. Soltys
was elected as Tuckers
District 1, Post 1 city council
representative after receiving
65.5 percent of votes over
incumbent Honey Van De
Kreke, who received 34
percent of votes.
Van De Kreke was elected
to Tuckers inaugural city
council in 2016. She fell out
of favor with some voters
after voting against The
Rise, a proposed mixed-use
development that would
have replaced the vacant
Sears warehouse at the
intersection of Hugh Howell
Road and Mountain Industrial
Boulevard. Many residents in
the Smoke Rise community,
which is in District 1,
supported the proposal and
voiced their disappointment
in the council, specifically Van
De Kreke, on the communitys
Facebook page.
Soltys said there were
several reasons why she ran
for city council, one of them
being that Van De Kreke,
according to Soltys, was open
in stating that she didnt vote
the way the constituents she
represented asked.
The biggest thing was
to be a representative and
a voice of the district, she
said. To recognize and be
able to make sure that the
diversity of the district was
well positioned in the city of
Tucker, for both being able to
be a resource and a benefit.
And the third thing, because I
have a very good background
in exempt development and
I think I have something to
bring to the city.
Soltys said District 1
is more than the Smoke
Rise community and it is
important to her that all
residents in the district
have an opportunity to be
incorporated into the fabric of
Tucker.
We have a huge brain
trust herein that we have
business ownerswe have a I think what I can
lot of professionals, we have do is bring some of the
people in just about every analytical components [to
walk of life within Smoke Rise, the council] in terms of who
she said. With people in the are the residents, what do
greater district, its even more we represent, what do we
diverse. So consequently, the need, what kinds of things
opinions of those people and are even there or lacking
the volunteerism needs to be and really be able to bring
incorporated. that in terms of what kind of
I think I can do that by planning we need to have,
making sure that the people and then hopefully have that
have the opportunity to serve incorporated in terms of the
in volunteer capacities, to thought process of the final
be able to be a voice, to be comprehensive plan, she said.
able to be a resource and to So, I will be working to make
very much feel engaged and sure that the comprehensive
informed, she added. plan addresses District 1 and
The city is currently Im going to make sure I do as
working on its comprehensive much as possible on that.
plan, and Soltys said she
wants to make sure District 1
is addressed in the plan.
FOOD SERVICE CONTRACTORS
NEEDED
Summit is seeking subcontractors to support
a potential foodservice contract with the DeKalb
County Sheriffs Office for inmate meals in
the following areas: food, cleaning solutions
and supplies, paper products and catering. If
interested, please send an email outlining your
qualifications to proposals@elior-na.com.
EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 14

TUCKER

LAND PURCHASED FOR SMOKE RISE REBUILD

DeKalb County School District reaches
agreement with Sears Roebuck & Co.
BY R. SCOTT BELZER
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County School
District (DCSD) announced
a land-purchase agreement
worth approximately $4.4
million on Nov. 6.
Following an extended
executive session on Nov. 6,
the DCSD board of education
reached an agreement with
Sears Roebuck & Co for 12.4
acres at 4740 Hugh Howell
Road in Tucker.
The landapproximately
1.8 miles from DCSDs
Administrative Complex
and Instructional Centeris
currently the site of unused
Sears Roebuck & Co. offices
and warehouses near
Mountain West Church and a
Sears Outlet store.
The acreage is to be used
for the campus of a new, 700-
seat Smoke Rise Elementary
School, currently located
at 1991 Silver Hill Road in
Stone Mountain. The new
campus is approximately two
miles away from the schools
current location.
According to district
officials, construction on the
new school is scheduled to
begin in 2018 and open at
the beginning of the 2020-21
school year.
According to a facility
condition assessment
completed in May 2016,
Smoke Rise was built in 1969
with a gymnasium addition
in 2003. It scored a zero out
of 100 as an official score and
The current Smoke Rise Elementary, built in 1969, was deemed 10 percent over its service life in 2016. Photo submitted
was deemed to be 10 percent
over its remaining service life.
DCSD superintendent
The rebuild of Smoke Rise an education-specific special the rebuild could not take
R. Stephen Green said
Elementary was approved purpose local option sales place at its current location
negotiations for the new
in 2011 as part of DeKalb tax (E-SPLOST IV). In 2015, because of the schools septic
school site have taken more
County voters approval of however, it was determined system.
than two years.

LAKESIDE Continued From Page 8A

research the school district should
have done in the first place.
On Nov. 6, Debbie Miller, Kay
Colson, Ed Ewing, Kenneth Lippe,
Mike SanFratello, and Angela Maki
expressed their concerns during
DCSDs November public input
session.
Miller said, its never too late
to do the right thing. She said the
stormwater management system
near Lakeside is frequently flooded
by rain, suffers from erosion and that
no development should take place
until such issues are addressed in the
Briarcliff area.
Colson said she didnt know about
the expansion until April 2017. She
said DeKalb County Commissioners
are not supportive of the plan
because it is a bad, short-term plan.
Far too few residents were
involved in the discussion, Colson
said. Who speaks for the community
when a major decision like this is
going to impact more than buildings
being upsized to house more
students?
Ewing said Lakesides expansion
lacks critical economic, social, political
and technological considerations.
If you want to do the job right,
you hire an interior designer before
you remodel your house. You hire
an architect before you build a new
school building, and you hire a
strategic planning consultant before
you expand a school system, Ewing
said.
Lippe said traffic around Lakeside
is pretty much abysmal. He said any
further additions to Lakeside would
only bring more.
A three-story parking garage will
cause unprecedented daily traffic,
Lippe said. Imagine three stories
of parking spaces attempting to be
filled or emptied while dealing with
intersections of two-lane roads.
Maki said classrooms are
inadequate in addressing Lakesides
overpopulation problem.
No realistic renovations can
enlarge the original buildings
corridors or the narrow staircase
where literally thousands of students
enter and exit Lakeside each day,
Maki said. These narrow hallways,
which access key common spaces,
provide an effective place to hide
unsavory activities in plain sight due
to the wall-to-wall congestion, and
have been the location of violent
fights as recently as this fall.

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EDUCATION
BROOKHAVEN
SHARING UNTOLD STORIES
Students share personal narratives for upcoming book
BY R. SCOTT BELZER
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
Those who may have
visited the chorus room
at Cross Keys High School
during the week of Nov. 6,
may have witnessed Tea
Rozman Clark collecting tales
of hardship, perseverance and
triumph from DeKalb County
School District students.
It was very hard for me
to make friends, said one.
Theres a language barrier.
People ask you, Why is your
hair so dark? Why are you so
dark? What cant you speak
English? It makes you feel
like youre inferior. But how
do you explain to someone,
a child, This isnt my country
and this isnt where Im from?
Clark is the executive
director for Green Card
Voices, a Minneapolis-based
nonprofit that focuses on
sharing personal narratives
from Americas immigrants.
Green Card Voices records
and shares the narratives
in hopes of breaking
stereotypes, reducing bias
and empowering immigrants.
Through such recordings,
the nonprofit has produced
three books: Green Card Youth
Voices: Minneapolis, Green
Card Youth Voices: Fargo, and
Green Card Youth Voices: St.
Paul. One student featured in
one of the books received an
opportunity to speak in front
of the United Nations.
After speaking with 30
students from Cross Keys
High School and International
Student Center, Green Card
Voices will publish and share
Green Card Youth Voices:
Immigration Stories from an
Atlanta High School in April
2018.
Clark said she was inspired
to collect stories and publish
the books in the past two
years because of the current
political and social climate.
Even before this
[presidents] administration,
people just had
misunderstandings about
who immigrants are,
Clark said. I came to this
country when I was 20, from
Yugoslavia right after the
war. I didnt speak English. It
really helps if we immigrants
do our part in helping people
here understand who we
are and what kind of life
we lived, what motivated
us to come here in the first
place and explain how we
now contribute. We need to
explain what our dreams and
hopes are and what we hope
to contribute so that we can
have a constructive dialogue.
Clark asked students six
open-ended questions to
elicit each narrative. She
said each student received
the questions one month in
advance to prepare.
The key is to do active
listening, Clark said. By the
time they are here to record
they are confident, prepared
and know what they are
going to talk about. The
idea is to have the narrative
flowing uninterrupted.
On Nov. 7, Clark and
three studentsAbdoulaye
Diallo-Guinea of Senegal,
Yamileth Jarquin of Mexico
and Monico Gomez Mendez
of Guatemalaallowed The
Champion to observe the
process.
Jarquin shared her story
of being born in a small
town in Mexico. Though
she grew up in a loving
environment surrounded by
family, she said her father
came to America several
times because of financial
hardships.
My mother was
depressed, I think, because
she tried to do everything on
her own, Jarquin said. Being
a single mother is looked
down upon in many cultures,
and so my fathers side of
the family looked down on
her. They would criticize her
and criticize me. She had to
constantly carry that with
her and carry me with her.
Despite all of that, my family
has always been the rock of
who I am. When I left them,
it was like leaving who I was
behind.
Jarquin said she and her
mother soon joined her father
in America. She describes
saying goodbye to her
grandparents and extended
family as one of the hardest
things she has ever done.
I had never seen my
grandfather cry in his entire
life, Jarquin said. I was
confused. It wasnt until I
saw my grandmother break
down that I understood. I
remember clinging on to my
grandmother and saying, No,
this is my whole life, I dont
DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 15
want to go with you.
Jarquin said she felt like
she gave up her culture when
arriving in America. She
said she missed celebrating
national events such as Dia
de los Muertos and Mexican Green Card Voices visited Cross Keys High School the week of Nov. 6 to hear
stories from immigrant students in DeKalb County School District. Photos by R.
Independence Day and has Scott Belzer
already lost a lot of her ability
to speak Spanish fluently.
Growing up in America,
Jarquin said she witnessed
her father and mother
sacrifice meals so she could
eat. Today, she plays on Cross
Keys volleyball team and
participates in other clubs,
hopes to graduate from high
school, attend college and
become either a lawyer or
the head of a human rights-
focused nonprofit.
Im a firm believer in that,
if you want to see change,
you have to be a part of it,
Jarquin said. I want to be
someone who stands up for
Abdoulaye Diallo-Guinea of Senegal shared his story of being homeless and his
aspirations to become a music producer with Tea Rozman Clark.
and educates others. Ive had
a lot of support and my life
and I want to give that to
others.
For Jarquin, sharing her
personal story is essential
to breaking the stereotype
of Mexican immigrants. She
said she was nervous about
sharing her story but now
feels empowered in doing so.
We dont want to invade
or destroy the country and
take your job, she said. Its
much more deeptheres
so much more depth to
everybody. I remember living
in a cocoon of fear after the
most recent [presidential
election]. But knowing I have Monico Gomez Mendez of Guatemala shared his story of travelling to the United
States alone at age 16.
support and that this is my
voice, my story lets me know
I wont let anyone else dictate
my life. Ive lost that fear and
I want someone to read my
story and lose that fear.
Clark said theres a wide
array of reasons that students
share their stories with her.
I do believe a lot of
students who participate
are starting to understand
that they are the story they
tellto themselves and to
others, Clark said. As an
immigrant, youre not part
of the dominant narrative. Yamileth Jarquin said she hopes to eventually advocate for immigrants by
Ultimately, its a choice of
becoming a lawyer or director of a nonprofit.
defining yourself and who
you are rather than letting
other people tell your story.
you to understand what different geography. Every
Young people are learning an immigrant is, you need story is so uniquely different
they need to become part
to understand different from others.
of the narrative to see it dynamicsdifferent states,
completed. In order for
different family cultures,
BUSINESS
DECATUR
Rye crackers available from Esto Etno, like rye
bread, are made from pure rye flours.
An apple pastry, made with fresh apples and oats, is less sweet than most pastries made in the United
States.
Specialty bakery brings taste of
Eastern Europe to Decatur
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
When Tiina DSouza moved to the
United States from her native Estonia
she discovered that among the things
she missed most was the rye bread
that was part of nearly every meal in
her home country.
What they call rye bread here
is made with a mixture of rye and
wheat flour. It has the texture most
Americans expect in bread, but its not
the same at all, she said. At home,
dense dark bread is made with a
blend of pure rye flours and is served
with almost everything. It serves as
an anchor to the meal. We rarely eat
white bread.
Every time she went back to
Estonia, she recalled, she would bring
back as much rye bread as she could
and freeze it. When the supply was
getting low, my husband would say,
Go ahead and have your rye bread; Ill
eat something else, she said.
Although she was not able to find
exactly the rye flours used in Estonia,
DSouza started baking her own
Stollen, which is more German than Estonian, is
popular internationally during the Christmas season.
rye bread as well as other Eastern
European-style baked goods. Friends
complimented the culinary creations
and urged her to consider starting a
business.
"They mostly liked that my baked
goods are healthier than what
theyre used to. In the United States,
especially here in the South, sweet
baked goods tend to be very sweet.
People tell me, Oh, I dont eat pastries.
They have too much sugar. Then they
taste mine and they like them. They
also like that I never use things like
corn syrup or preservatives and my
baked goods are made with whole
grains, DSouza said.
She said traditional Estonian
baked goods often use fresh fruit,
incorporating what is seasonal. I can
get apples all year-round so I use
them a lot, DSouza said, indicating
an apple pastry thats among her
specialties. This is made with oats
and is about half apples so its sweet,
but not too sweet.
Another of her specialties, stollen,
is more German than Estonian, but
is popular in many places in Europe,
DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 16
Tiina DSouza slices dark rye bread, the signature product at Esto Etno Fine Bakery.
especially during the holiday season.
I get a lot of requests for stollen for
the holidays. Im not ready this year to
produce a high volume of products,
but I should be ready by the 2018
holiday season, she said.
DSouza started Esto Etno Fine
Bakery through Start: ME, an intensive
14-week accelerator program
created in 2013 by Emory Universitys
Goizueta Business School. Start: ME
leverages the Village Capital model to
provide micro-entrepreneursthose
with four or fewer employees
training, mentorship support and
early-stage financing. She launched
her business in the spring in time
to exhibit at the Start: ME 2017
Showcase. Its an excellent program
and I found a really good mentor. The
mentors are really the best part of the
program. They help you find answers
even to questions you didnt know to
ask.
The bakery is operated from her
Decatur home, but D'Souza hopes to
move it soon to a commercial kitchen.
It has pretty much taken over the
house, she said, pointing to shelves of
equipment and ingredients. The name
Esto Etno, she said, is an abbreviated
form of Estonian ethnic.
Although she studied baking
in Estonia and worked for a while
in a chocolate factory, DSouza
said she never considered starting
a business before she moved
to the United States. Creativity
and entrepreneurship were not
encouraged in the old Soviet Union,
explained DSouza, who has lived in
the United States 13 years.
As a home-based bakery, DSouza
has a limited business license that
allows her to sell at only directly to
consumers and only in Georgia. My
products are sold mostly at farmers
markets and fairs. Theres a lot of
competition to sell those places so
getting accepted is not easy.
I sell some online, but I dont want
to promote online sales until Im sure
I can find a carrier who can guarantee
fast delivery. Although I dont use
preservatives, the products naturally
have a long shelf life. Still, I dont want
them aging in the shipping process,
she said.
 DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 17

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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 18

FOOTBALL

Southwest DeKalbs Jamel Starks avoids a tackle. Michael Pace outruns Banneker defenders. SWD linebacker Eris Walker (No. 5) attempts to tackle a Banneker
runner. Photos by Travis Hudgons

SWD WINS FIRST PLAYOFF GAME IN EIGHT YEARS

playoff game. 7-0 lead. angle, but kicked it to their a 56-yard touchdown pass,
BY CARLA PARKER Quarterback Justin Banneker responded on fastest player, and then he extending to lead to 28-10.
carla@dekalbchamp.com Tomlin, who missed the final the following kickoff, with did it again. So, we have to In the fourth quarter, Starks
two games of the regular Tarique Dennis returning correct that and not let the gave his team a 35-10 lead on
The Southwest DeKalb season after spraining his the kickoff 70 yards for a best player beat us. a 7-yard touchdown run.
Panthers (8-3) won its first shoulder against Lithonia touchdown, tying the game. Southwest DeKalb Banneker scored with 30
playoff game since 2009 after Oct. 27, led his team with four In the second quarter, responded to Bannekers seconds left in the game on
beating the Banneker Trojans touchdownsthree in the SWDs Jamel Starks score with a 20-yard an 11-yard pass, bringing the
(8-3) 35-17 in the first round air and one on the ground. intercepted a Banneker pass touchdown pass from Tomlin final score to 35-17.
of the Class AAAAA state Tomlin said he did not feel and returned it to the 1-yard to Myles Litt, extending their Tomlin, who has been the
playoffs at William Buck any effects from his injury line. Tomlin would score on lead to 21-10 before halftime. Panthers starting quarterback
Godfrey Stadium, named during the game. the next play on a 1-yard In the third quarter, since his freshman year, said
after the football programs I felt great tonight, Tomlin touchdown run, giving the Banneker put together a nice it was an honor to win his first
former coach. The win also said. This team is my family, Panthers a 14-7 lead. drive to start the second half playoff game at Southwest
gave the program its 500th so when I was down they Banneker would again and got inside the 20-yard DeKalb.
win in program history. picked me up. They picked take advantage of SWDs line. However, the Panthers We havent won a playoff
Head coach Damien me up the whole week during special teams play on the defense kept them out of the game since 2009 and to do it
Wimes, who was an assistant practice to get back right and kickoff. Dennis fielded the end zone again and forced with these boys who Ive been
coach on the team that won to do good. kickoff again and returned it a field goal attempt, but this with for four years now, its
the playoff game in 2009, Hes back, Wimes said of to the 7-yard line. However, time Efrimea missed the 19- just a great honor, he said.
said the win was good for Tomlin. He worked hard to the Panthers defense kept yard attempt. The Panthers will travel to
the players, school and get back for this game. When Banneker out of the end zone The Panthers took Rome Nov. 17 to take on the
community. Justin Tomlin is on hes the and forced the Trojans to kick. advantage of the missed Rome Wolves in the second
[The players] laid a brick best high school quarterback James Efrimea made the 25- field goal with Tomlin hitting round. Game time is set for
tonighttheyre building Ive ever coached. yard field goal to cut SWDs Aquil Muhammed deep on 7:30 p.m.
and bringing the foundation After a couple of punts lead to 14-10.
of the program back, Wimes early in the game, Tomlin and Wimes said he and the
said. Im just happy they are the Southwest DeKalb offense coaching staff will address
successful, and whatever part got rolling midway through special teams in practice.
I played in it I thank God for it, the first quarter when Tomlin We have to develop
but Im just happy they were
successful, and they get to
hit Michael Pace on an 11- better ways to angle-kick SECOND ROUND
yard slant pass in the end the ball, he said. He was
see what it feels like to win a zone, giving the Panthers a supposed to kick it at an PLAYOFF MATCHUPS
Nov. 17
OTHER PLAYOFF SCORES Class 6A
Northside-Warner Robbins (8-3) vs. Tucker (10-1), Adams, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 1
Class 6A Class 3A Class 5A
Tucker (10-1) 55, Lakeside-Evans (2-9) 7 Cedar Grove (11-0) 48, Adairsville (6-5) 13 Carrollton (9-2) vs. Arabia Mountain (9-2), Hallford, 7:30 p.m.
Heritage-Conyers (8-3) 20, Stephenson (7-4) 7 SW DeKalb (8-3) at Rome (11-0), 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11
Class 5A Class 5A Class 4A
Arabia Mountain (9-2) 35, North Springs (6-5) 21 Jackson-Atlanta (9-2) 14, Miller Grove (5-6) 0
Carver-Atlanta (10-1) 36, Columbia (5-6) 0 Cedartown (10-1) at Marist (11-0), 7:30 p.m.
Troup County (9-2) at St. Pius X (6-5), 7:30 p.m.
Class 4A
Marist (11-0) 38, Madison County (4-7) 14 Class 3A
St. Pius X (6-5) 44, West Hall (5-6) 31 Dawson County (8-3) vs. Cedar Grove (11-0), Godfrey, 7:30 p.m.
SPORTS
BASEBALL
HISTORY MADE
AT REDAN
Eight baseball players sign
college scholarships
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Nov. 9, 2017 was an
historic day for the Redan
High School Raiders baseball
program as eight seniors
signed national letters of
intent to play baseball on the
college level.
Six playersOrlando
Adams (Kentucky), Chayce
Bryant (Georgia State),
Kameron Marshall (Alcorn
State), Kelvin Smith
(Missouri), Hunter Todd
(Florida A&M) and Lyndon
Weaver (Eastern Kentucky)
signed scholarships with
Division 1 schools, while Taj
Bradley and JaShaun Franks
signed with Hillsborough
Community College, A JUCO
(junior college; community
college) school in Plant City,
Fla.
Redans former longtime
baseball coach Greg
Goodwin, who helped many
players advance to the college
and professional levels, said
it was amazing to see eight
players signing baseball
scholarships at one time.
Statistically, its not
supposed to be but one and
a half kids up [on the stage],
Goodwin said. Thats the
average that play high school
ball who go on to play college
ballits about 1.5 from
each high school team. And
we have eight and maybe a
couple of more to sign later.
Current head coach
Alexander Wyche said it is a
blessing.
Eight signeessix D1s
and two JUCO guysare
just unheard of, Wyche said.
Were just blessed to have an
opportunity, blessed that [the
administration] gave me an
opportunity to be here and
then having the opportunity
to put these guys in the best
situation they can be in.
Wyche said it is amazing
to see eight of his players,
and potentially more, receive
athletic scholarships in
baseball.
The game of baseball is
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16 - 22, 2017 Page 19
such a difficult sport to get
a scholarship in, he said.
Most of these guys got 80 The Redan baseball program had an historic signing day with eight players signing.
to 100 percent of scholarship
[coverage], and [there are]
eight of them. Its a great
accomplishment to have
these guys on this [stage] and
signing before the season. So
thats just a big compliment
for Redan High School.
Todd, who had the second-
best batting average (.440)
on the team last season, said
one of the reasons he signed
with the Florida A&M (FAMU)
Rattlers was because of a
similarity with his childhood
baseball teamthe mascot.
When I [visited] it felt like
family, Todd said. As a child,
he played for the Gresham
Park Rattlers.
Todd had 40 hits, 22 RBIs
and scored 32 runs for the
Raiders last season. He said
FAMU will be getting an
all-around player as far as
fielding, hitting and speed on
the bases.
I feel like Im a gap-to-gap Kelvin Smith signs his letter of intent to Missouri as his parents look on.
[hitter], he said.
Adams said Kentucky gave
him a home-like feeling as
well.
The coaches treat you well
and I love the campus, Adams
said. Its a good atmosphere
there.
Adams hit a .393 average
last season on 33 hits. He
said his leadership skills are
the most important asset
Kentucky will get from him as
a player.
Im always holding my
teammates accountable and
make sure theyre on top of
their stuff at all times, he said.
Last season, the Raiders
fell to Coahulla Creek two
games to zero in the Class
AAA playoffs quarterfinals at
home. Wyche said just as last
year, the goal is to win a state
championship and they can
fully focus on that goal with
the signings out of the way.
If its not a state Chayce Bryant puts on a Georgia State hat after signing his letter of intent to play for the universitys baseball team after
high school.
championship, then its not a
successful season for us, even
though last year we won the win the state championship Baseball] as possible. Thats first week of school to try to
region and made it to the Elite and then get as many guys our goal this year. Weve accomplish that goal.
Eight. he said. Our goal is to drafted [into Major League been working hard since the
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 Page 20

STONECREST
Continued From Page 13A

Stonecrest, Mayor Jason Lary

said the city would annex
more than 300 acres of land
and rename it Amazon.
I have one trick, and
thats vision. I can see where
were going from here and I
see greatness, Lary said. We It only takes a moment to make a moment.
have a great council and the
best staff.
According to Amazon,
the company will invest
approximately $5 billion
into the city it chooses for its Stonecrest city council members and Mayor Jason Lary cut the
ribbon during a city hall grand opening ceremony.
second headquarters. The
commerce trade business
also is expected to create an
estimated 50,000 jobs.
Folks were just not going
to be denied, Lary said. Its
just that simple. We wont
trade in our name, were
just going to add a name
for them. We will still be the
mighty Stonecrest. Period.
Were just willing to carve off
a piece to bring commerce,
jobs and infrastructure.
From left, Stonecrest Communications Director Adrion Bell, Take time to fatherhood.gov
Mayor Jason Lary, council members Rob Turner and George be a dad today. #makeamoment
Turner.

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