the DeKalb FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • VOL.

23, NO 32 • FREE

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

RESIDENTS
ENJOY AVONDALE
MUSEUM A
WAFFLE LOT
Waffle House Museum
celebrates 10th anniversary
Avondale High School graduate
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN and one of the first patrons of
horace@dekalbchamp.com Waffle House, was the guest of
honor during the event. Anderson
signed autographs, posed for
Some Avondale Estates residents
pictures and told stories about his
say grabbing a bite to eat at Waffle
experiences at the restaurant.
House is part of a regular routine.
The museum looks similar to
During National Waffle Week,
the first restaurant and features
Waffle House Museum celebrated
memorabilia representing the 63-
its 10th anniversary in Avondale
year history of Waffle House.
Estates. The museum is on the site
“I graduated from Avondale
of the first Waffle House restaurant,
High School the same year Waffle
which opened in 1955.
House opened up,” Anderson said.
Pat Warner, spokesperson for
“We figured out that I was probably
Waffle House, said it was a special
the first country music artist to eat
celebration for the museum in its
at a Waffle House and I’ve eaten at a
10th year.
lot more since then.”
“We’ve had a lot of folks come
Anderson has a song dedicated
out, have fun and look at the first
to Waffle House on his latest album
Waffle House restaurant. This gives
Anderson called “Waffle House
people a chance to see what Waffle
Christmas.” He said over the years Waffle House Museum celebrated its 10th anniversary in Avondale Estates on Sept. 8.
House is all about,” Warner said.
Waffle House hasn’t changed—
During the Sept. 8 event, Waffle
much.
House officials gave away T-shirts,
“The prices have changed,”
buttons and Waffle House food
Anderson said, laughing. “But
samples.
the people who are running it are
According to Warner, Waffle
carrying the tradition of the guys
House began with two neighbors
who started it in 1955. They laid a
who wanted to open a 24-hour
great foundation for this company.”
restaurant. The owners planned to
Avondale Estates residents
open 10 Waffle House restaurants
Rochelle Yansine and Brandi
and “go fishing.” Since its opening
Limbago said they came to the
in 1955, Waffle House has grown to
event to visit the museum and for
a chain of 1,900 restaurants in 25
free food.
states.
“My kids love [Waffle House]
“I think that’s what endears us
and they want to go all the time,”
to people,” Warner said. “We’re
said Limbago. “I’ve never been
always open. Whether it’s early or
to the museum, so this is my first
late, people know they can count
time.”
on us. Our joke is, ‘we have 2,000
Yansine said the Avondale
restaurants and [the owners] never
Waffle House Museum “is really
got to go fishing.’”
cool and a great piece of local
Country music Hall of Fame
history.”
inductee Bill Anderson, an

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

LOCAL
CLARKSTON
City police extend
lip sync challenge
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The lip sync battles that are
sweeping police departments
in the country have finally hit
Clarkston.
The Clarkston Police
Department and city residents
filmed their version of the
police lip sync battle Sept. 7.
The lip sync challenge became
the latest internet sensation this
summer after a deputy from the
Bexar County Sheriff ’s Office
in Texas wowed the internet
with his performance of “Fuiste
Mala” by Los Kumbia Kings,
according to The Huffington
Post.
Since then, police
departments, as well as fire
departments, have posted lip
sync videos with a variety of
songs, and challenged other
departments to join the
fun. Clarkston Police Chief
Christine Hudson said their
COUNTYWIDE
Don’t forget about us
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
While MARTA is extending
services into other counties,
DeKalb County elected officials
are urging the transit system to
remember the residents who
have paid for services through
taxes for more than 40 years.
A letter, which was dated
Aug. 29, from DeKalb County
CEO Michael Thurmond and
all county commissioners,
was sent to MARTA before
the transit system’s vote on a
contract between them and
Gwinnett County Sept. 6.
MARTA’s board of directors did
approve that day a contract to
extend bus, rail, and mobility
services into Gwinnett.
“Today’s vote is another
step in fulfilling the dream of a
truly regional transit system,”
MARTA Board of Directors
department hasn’t been directly
challenged to do a video but
wanted to do something fun
that would involve officers.
“There are so many different
agencies that are doing it and
our officers asked me if we
could do it and I said, ‘Yeah, of
course,’” Hudson said. “So, we
went to the expertise people
with Councilwoman [Andrea]
Cervone, then she got the film
crew for us and here we are.”
Cervone said a film crew
was already in town filming a
documentary on Clarkston.
“The film crew graciously
offered to gift us the services of
filming and editing [the video]
too,” Cervone said.
The song Clarkston selected
to lip sync to is Taylor Swift’s
“Shake it Off.” Cervone said
they selected that song because
the students at Atlanta Area
School for the Deaf, which
is located in Clarkston, did a
video signing the lyrics “Shake
it Off ” a couple of years ago.
“Our first [filming] location
DeKalb to MARTA:
DeKalb County elected officials want MARTA to improve existing services in the county as the transit system commits to providing
services to new participating jurisdictions.
Chairman Robert L. Ashe said
in a released statement. “We are
excited about the opportunity
to transform the region and
provide greater connectivity.”
In DeKalb’s letter to
MARTA, elected officials said
the county welcomes new
jurisdictions to MARTA,
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 2
was the [school] with the
[students] teaching our officers
to sign “Shake it Off,”” Cervone
said.
Hudson said doing activities
such as the lip sync challenge
are important because it
involves the community.
“We have such a huge
refugee population here [and]
The film crew shoots a scene at Refuge Coffee.
my big thing is trying to break
the walls down and have the
citizens of Clarkston feel
comfortable enough so that
they can call on us,” Hudson
said. “I think by doing this and
inviting the whole community
out to participate in this lip sync
will help.”
So far, Dunwoody’s police
department is the only public
safety agency in DeKalb
County that has done a lip sync
challenge video. Hudson and
Cervone said Clarkston’s video
will top Dunwoody’s and the
others.
“I challenge every agency in
DeKalb County,” Hudson said. Councilwoman Andrea Cervone, second right, gives suggestions on how to set up a scene
involving Clarkton Police Chief Christine Hudson, center, and other officers at Refuge Coffee.
original members with the same
specificity and deference as the
proposed contract offers to its
newest prospective member.”
DeKalb officials said the
county wants a commitment
from MARTA to correct “long-
standing” deficiencies with
in the current services in the
county, including the quality
and reliability of bus service,
mobility services and bus stops
and shelters.
“For several years now,
MARTA has made quarterly
presentations to the DeKalb
County Commission
alluding to upgraded bus
“however, we must address the existing MARTA penny, stops, improved amenities
important deficiencies in the and conditions necessary for at MARTA rail stations and
contract and in the level and the success of proposals for an new technologies MARTA
quality of service that MARTA additional levy in the future,” is planning to deploy, but
has delivered in DeKalb.” the letter stated. “On behalf many of these improvements
“Accordingly, we are of the governing authority of have not been accomplished,”
writing to express DeKalb’s DeKalb County, we believe it The letter stated. “MARTA’s
expectations for maintenance is as important for MARTA to
and expansion of service under renew its commitment to its SEE MARTA ON PAGE 8
LOCAL
AROUNDDEKALB
BROOKHAVEN
Brookhaven to host public
meeting for Zoning Ordinance
Rewrite
The Brookhaven Community
Development Department will
host a public meeting for the
Zoning Ordinance Rewrite on
Saturday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m.-noon,
at City Hall, 4362 Peachtree Road.
A draft of the rewrite and more
information can be found at
www.brookhavenzoning.com.
DECATUR
Passport Day announced
DeKalb County Superior Court
Clerk Debra DeBerry will host
National Passport Day Sept. 22
from 8 a.m. until noon to provide
passport information to U.S.
citizens and to accept passport
applications. Appointments are
not necessary when applying in
the clerk’s office. DeKalb Clerk
of Superior Court, along with
hundreds of acceptance facilities
around the country, are joining
the Department of State in
hosting National Passport Day.
The event will be held in the
office of DeKalb County Superior
Court located in the DeKalb
County Courthouse, 556 N.
McDonough St., ground floor, in
downtown Decatur.
For more information on
National Passport Day at the
DeKalb County Clerk of Superior
Court Office and how to apply
for a U.S. passport, call Fayron
Woodley at (404) 687-3873.
WE ARE SOCIAL
CHAMBLEE
Chamblee holds multi-modal
transportation meeting
Chamblee will hold a kick-off
meeting on the multi-modal
transportation plan Wednesday,
Sept. 26 from 6-8 p.m. at the
North DeKalb Senior Center, 3393
Malone Drive.
Other topics include the
conceptual plans for the
third phase of the Rail Trail
and the future autonomous
shuttle planned for downtown
Chamblee, funded through the
Smart Communities Challenge.
For more information on the
city of Chamblee, visit www.
chambleega.gov or call (770)986-
5010.
COUNTYWIDE
Commissioner Johnson, Kaiser
Permanente to host festival
DeKalb County Commissioner
Larry Johnson and Kaiser
Permanente will host the sixth
annual “The Heart of South
DeKalb Festival” Sept. 28-29 at
the Porter Sanford III Performing
Arts and Community Center.
The festival will include food
trucks, job and health fairs, car
showcase, vendors, county
resources, children activities,
all day entertainment, prizes
and more. Sponsor and vendor
opportunities are still available,
email hosd13@yahoo.com for
more information. The center is
located at 3181 Rainbow Drive in
Decatur. For more information,
visit www.heartofsouthdekalb.
com.
@DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 3
Fresh on Dek season coming
to an end
DeKalb County Cooperative
Extension will celebrate the end
of its successful fourth season of
Fresh on DeK, DeKalb County’s
Mobile Farmers Market, with
a Fall Harvest Festival on Sept.
29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
the DeKalb County Extension
Office at 4380 Memorial Drive in
Decatur.
According to DeKalb officials,
this festival is a way for DeKalb
County Cooperative Extension
to express its gratitude to
the community for helping
it relieve food access barriers
and provide fresh produce
paired with nutrition education
programming.
For more information,
contact the DeKalb County
Cooperative Extension office at
(404)-298-4080 or visit at www.
ugaextension.com/dekalb.
Free leashes to dog owners
DeKalb County Animal
Services and Enforcement is
offering free dog leashes to pet
owners to reduce the number of
calls it receives about stray and
roaming dogs.
Animal Services has
purchased 2,600 leashes and
has placed 100 leashes in each
of the 26 DeKalb County Fire
Rescue stations. The leashes will
be given on a first-come, first-
served basis to dog owners.
Animal Services receives
approximately 1,000 calls for
service per month, with 80
percent of those calls being
for stray and roaming animals,
according to DeKalb animal
services officials.
For a list of DeKalb County
Fire Rescue stations, visit www.
dekalbcountyga.gov/fire and
click “Fire Stations and Facilities.”
TUCKER
Tucker High band to host
tailgate party
The Tucker High School band
will host a community tailgate
party Sept. 28 from 3:30 to 5
p.m. in the school’s courtyard.
Individual tailgate meal tickets
for parents and community
members are on sale online at
www.tuckerhsband.ludus.com
for $5. Tucker T-shirts will also be
available at the tailgate for $10.
All tailgate meal proceeds benefit
the THS Tigers Band Parent
Association. The school is located
at 5036 Lavista Road.
STONE MOUNTAIN
City to host music event
Trina Meade & Tomi Martin
will perform Sept. 28 at Stone
Mountain’s Tunes By The Tracks
event in the municipal parking
lot, next to the Gazebo. Attendees
can bring lawn chairs. The two-
hour concert begins at 7 p.m.
For more information, visit www.
stonemountaincity.org.
OPINION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 4

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

What do we do when laws not enforced?

Our leaders break the law and
ignore us and that is okay, and I
get lectured by those who do not
want to rock the boat. Your concern
should not be whether I hear you,
but it should be whether our elected
leaders, the DeKalb BOC hear Us and
follow the law.
My motivation is rooted in
making sure our leaders follow the
same rules and laws that we have
to. We should all be in favor of doing
the right thing in the interest of the
people with equal protection under
the law. My motivation or security
is not to kiss up to politicians, or
get a job, or to receive awards, or be
appointed to a position or committee,
or to get elected. None of those are
my goals. It is about accountability,
trust, honesty, and integrity.
Money and power will not bend
me, I will challenge the authority
when it abuses its power. We must be
able to distinguish between right and
wrong. It is that simple.
I hear you and see you, but your
experience and motivations are
different from minds in many ways.
Because of that, we will not likely
see certain issues the same. “This little
candle of minds I am going to let in
shine.”   of what could happen. I am not
I do admire your morality in being
honest and forth right and sharing
your opinion. Now, I want to have the
same right and ability to speak and
be heard. I am tired of being ignored
and treated like I do not matter.
You should not judge my
actions until you understand all
the facts of the case. You choose to
prescribe how I should act without
challenging the elected officials and
the system. This is partly why we lack
accountability in our government in
the first place. You choose to give the
elected leaders a pass for whatever
reason and attack me for wanting to
have better. I have given the DeKalb
BOC every opportunity since Feb 27,
2018 to change their decision.  it. I will not be treated differently
I will not be timid, or stand on the
fence or give one sided perspectives
worried about the outcome or what
might happen. I am in the game to
make a difference and tell the truth to
the powerful and to take unpopular
positions when it is necessary.   Theodore Parker.
When I am told that this has never
been done before, I will not shrink
from the opportunity to shine my
light. My education and knowledge
does not make me blind to the truth,
or doing the right thing.
I will not be silent on issues that
matter. I will not overlook issues
concerning fundamental principles of
fairness and equal protection of law
for expediency or  to be popular. 
I will keep the fight going, history
teaches us and our future demands
because of who I am, or where I come
from. I will not be defined or told
how I should act, slow down or not to
rock the boat. I ask you to look in the
mirror and tell me what you see. 
“The arc of the moral universe is
long, but it bends towards justice”. 
Ed Williams. Ed.D. Chair
Concerned Citizens For Effective
Government

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#ItsInTheChampion
OPINION
Master of the House?
“When I met Paul Ryan 22 years
ago, he was a student at Miami
University of Ohio, volunteering on
my campaign,” former U.S. House
speaker, John Boehner (53rd Speaker
and longtime GOP representative of
Ohio’s 8th Congressional District).
 
Many believe the office of
president of the United States to
be among the most difficult in the
world. That may be, but I would
say that the most difficult job these
days in Washington, D.C., is speaker
of the House. Presiding over 435
independently elected members,
with terms of only two years, leads
to a hierarchy largely based on
seniority and partisan loyalty. While
the traditions, rules and structures
of the House often seem arcane
and archaic to non-members, try
herding 435 cats toward any single
objective at any time; and then get
back to me.  •H ouse Freedom Caucus
Prior to the days of hyper
partisanship, gotcha politics and
multiple divisions within each
major political party; reaching
consensus within the Democratic
or Republican Party leadership
was not always so challenging. As
recently at 1994, the GOP won the
majority and control of Congress,
led by then-grenade-throwing,
outsider and Georgia Congressman
Newt Gingrich, and a member
majority which swept into office
on a common campaign platform
called the “Contract with America”.  consensus on major challenges
President Donald
Trump’s recasting of the modern
GOP toward a more populist and
nationalist agenda has further
complicated the challenges of
leading members of the House
Majority toward delivery of the
president’s legislative agenda. The
115th Congress will end January
3, 2019, in just over 90 days, the
GOP holds 241 of 435 seats (a 24-
seat majority). Yet, in a body with
an incumbent re-election rate of
FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 5
budget plans which reduced the Pelosi (D-California, 12th District),
‘One Man’s federal budget deficit by more than who last served as speaker a decade
$700 billion while under earlier ago, if they reclaim the House
Opinion’ GOP control and during previous majority. For Trump, Pelosi would
sessions of Congress. However, fill the role of daily foil and Disney
Bill Crane this current Congress is presenting villain from central casting for his
bill.csicrane@gmail.com a mini-omnibus budget with an daily Tweeting and offer him a
expected deficit of nearly $1 trillion better option than often seeming
94 percent...49 Republicans are later this fall. So much for fiscal at war with leaders of his own
voluntarily not seeking re-election.  conservatism. party. Trump is most in his element
Chief among that group Absent any real scandal, this when in the midst of battle.
retiring from the House ranks former wunderkind and darling  Though it may now be seen as
is 54th U.S. House Speaker Paul of House conservatives, this Gen rare and counterintuitive to walk
Ryan (R-Wisconsin, 1st District) X, sub-boomer speaker is only 48 away from service as master of the
Ryan ascended to the office, which and voluntarily retiring at the peak house, in this social media, hyper
he never actually sought, on Oct. 29, of his power. Ryan indicated in his political age; it may more likely
2015, following the early departure retirement announcement that he become the norm for speaker’s yet
of former Speaker John Boehner.   plans to spend more quality time to come.
In addition to an awkward and with his children and young family,
strained relationship with the White who remain back in Wisconsin, Bill Crane also serves as a political
House, Ryan presides over a House while the rumor mill continues to analyst and commentator for Channel
GOP Caucus often at war with itself. bubble that Ryan is on the short 2’s Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk
Here are GOP sub-caucuses within list to lead a lobbying firm or a 750 and now 95.5 FM, as well as a
the current Congress: D.C.-based think tank such as the columnist for The Champion, DeKalb
American Enterprise Institute. Free Press and Georgia Trend. Crane
(HFC)- Conservative members For Trump, GOP loss of is a DeKalb native and business owner,
affiliated with the Tea Party control of the House may be living in Scottdale. You can reach
movement, birthed in the 2010 viewed as a measured win. House him or comment on a column at bill.
congressional mid-terms Democrats are divided over csicrane@gmail.com.
•L iberty Caucus (LC) - Libertarian whether to reinstall Rep. Nancy
Republicans
•R epublican Study Committee
(RSC) - At 154 members, all self-
labeled conservatives, the largest
GOP sub-caucus
•R epublican Main Street
Partnership (MSP) - 70 members,
of more moderate, “chamber of
commerce” Republicans seeking
facing the nation
•T uesday Group (TG) - 50
members of the shrinking
moderates within the House GOP
who meet weekly for lunch
Ryan is a policy wonk who got
started in politics as a college
republican and later campaign
volunteer at Miami University in
Oxford, Ohio, for Boehner. Known
for his attention to detail and
knowledge of the federal budget,
Ryan was the architect of several
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
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LOCAL
Human Rights group presents
list of demands to school board
TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human
Rights took a stand against what the group
described as disproportionate discipline and
achievement gaps for African-American
students in City Schools of Decatur Sept.
11.
The group presented a seven-item list of
demands related to how Black students are
treated in the school district at the board of
education meeting.
“We came in large numbers to show how
important it is to have these demands meet,”
said Lilly Pettus, parent member of Beacon
Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights.
Included in the number of attendees were
students Kenya Oliver, a Decatur High
School senior.
“It’s important to know that this regards
students in City Schools of Decatur,” Oliver
said. “So having us there has a greater
impact.”
The list includes: the end of out-of-
school suspension for kindergarten through
fifth-grade students effective Oct. 1, an
immediate commitment to and engagement
with the Georgia Department of Education
and Positive Behavioral Interventions and
Supports as governed by the GDOE, an
immediate release of all discipline and
gifted services data disaggregated by race,
the establishment of a clear grievance
process with procedures for students and
parents to address teacher and administrator
discrimination, the development of a
district-wide equity plan, mandatory implicit
bias training for all teachers and staff and
the rating of cultural competence in teacher,
administrator and staff evaluations.
“We made the demands,” said Mawuli
Davis, Beacon Hill Black Alliance for
Human Rights chair. “We believe that all the
board members acknowledged and reckoned
the importance of the demands we were
making. The superintendent did as well.
We are scheduled to meet with the school
district’s equity director [Lillie Huddleston]
in the near future to go over the demands.”
From Sept. 11 the school board has 30
days to respond to the group’s list. If the
demands are not met within the 30 days, the
group will take non-violent direct action,
according to Davis.
“We wanted it to be clear that we’re not
going away,” said Pettus. “I totally expect
our school district to work with us on these
demands.”
Pettus has been a member of the human
rights group for two years. She also has two
children, a sophomore and a senior, who
attend school in the CSD school district.
“We thank the community members
who attended (the Sept. 11) board meeting
and appreciate their comments,” said
David Dude, the City Schools of Decatur
superintendent. “We share the community’s
commitment to ensuring educational equity,
and it is through this shared commitment
that we will collectively effect change.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 6
Members of the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human
Rights after the group presented a list of demands to the
City Schools of Decatur board of education. From left to
right: Mawuli Davis, Dax Pettus, Kenya Oliver and Trajan
Axam. (photo provided by Beacon Hill Black Alliance for
Human Rights)
Addressing race-based disproportionality in
discipline, participation, and achievement is
an urgent issue for our district. My staff and
I are reviewing the letter from the Beacon
Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights and
discussing the areas of concern, many of
which are already addressed in our Equity
Action Plan. We look forward to working
with the group to continue this important
work.”
According to Davis, the group does not
think that the recent equity plan addresses
core issues quickly enough.
The district’s equity plan plans to have
its employees trained on cultural humility,
curriculum and instruction and policies and
procedures by the end of 2024.
According to a report presented at the
meeting by Dude, in the 2015-16 school
year Black students represented 23.2
percent of the student body but received
73.9 percent of rude and disorderly conduct
citations.
In the 2015-16 school year a Black
student in CSD was eight times more likely
to be cited for rude and disorderly conduct.
In academic year 2016-17 Black
students represented 22.1 percent of student
enrollment but were suspended at three
times the rate of their White counterparts.
With respect to academic disparities,
between fall 2013 and fall 2017, and across
all elementary grades, Black students
performed on average 20 percent points
lower than their White peers, according to
the report.
Between academic year 2015-16
and 2017-18 fewer than one in 10 Black
students were represented in the gifted
students program, the report states.
“I have hope,” Dude said. “I have hope
because we are now tackling what has
long been a taboo subject. We are finally
speaking freely and openly about the issues
that lead to race-based disproportionality in
discipline, participation, and achievement.
We are committed to ensuring that in our
future, knowing a child’s race will tell you
nothing about how their behavior will be
managed, what they will participate in, or
how they will achieve academically.”
Clarkston approves contract
with Welcoming America
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Clarkston will pursue
designation as a certified welcoming
city after entering into a contract
with Welcoming America.
The city council voted 3-2 in
favor of approving the contract at its
Sept. 4 regular meeting. Welcoming
America, which is located in
Decatur, provides “the road map
and support [communities] need
to become more inclusive towards
immigrants and all residents,” the
organization’s website states.
According to the contract,
Welcoming America will audit
Clarkston’s policies to see if they
are geared towards welcoming
immigrants and all residents. Once
the audit is complete, they will
provide a policy road map to the
city council, which they could or
could not adopt. Council members
YT Bell, Jamie Carroll and Andrea
Cervone voted in favor of the
contract, while council members
Awet Eyasu and Ahmed Hassan
voted against it.
Eyasu said he had several
concerns about the contract,
specifically entering into a contract
with an organization to say the
city is welcoming when Eyasu said
the city is already welcoming. He
also said he had concerns about
Welcoming America taking up city
staff time for the audit.
“My only concern was we’re
going into a contract with an entity
that wants to have reasonable access
now, but what does reasonable
access means? Does it mean they’re
still going to have some time that
they will take out of our staff?
When it says reasonable I still have
issues with that,” Eyasu said. “I have
issues with tying up our city staff
that’s already well over worked and
give them additional duties by an
external entity that doesn’t respond
to the city council.”
Eyasu also said he has concerns
with the words “hiring practices”
practices in the contract.
“I still believe it’s an intrusion
on the duties of the city manager,”
he said. “I really don’t believe that
some other entity will come and
look and try to ask our city manager
his hiring practices, which we are
following all federal and state laws
and I don’t really see why somebody
is going to audit our city manager’s
duties.”
Cervone said there were some
amendments made to the contract
in regard to staff access.
“We changed that language
from unencumbered access to
staff, to reasonable access to
relevant staff members,” she said.
“We also added a provision in
terms of recertification stipulating
that we are able to opt out of any
recertification process if we so chose
without penalty.”
Eyasu and Hassan argued that
a contract was not necessary, but
Cervone said the agreement is
contractual in nature because the
city will receive $12,000 of free work
from Welcoming America.
“And as part of that work, what
they’re going to do is review all of
our policies and provide a policy
road map,” she said. “If the audit
comes back and shows we have no
policies in place and [more] work to
do to become certified, we should
be able to say we don’t think this is
feasible and we don’t want to do it.
But, having the policy road map will
show us where the gaps are in our
existing legislature, in our existing
policies are and will [show] what we
need to fix.”
“The thing is, if they’re going to
work with our city manager time,
that is hours our city manager could
be spending on other valuable
things that are very important
instead of wasting his hours talking
to some organization that’s trying
to make us more welcoming when
we’re already more welcoming,”
Eyasu argued.
Mayor Ted Terry said the
contract will acknowledge that the
city will continue to be a welcoming
city and be intentional in that effort.
“We’re going to seek support for
it and then we’re going to measure it
so that we’ll know that we are being
welcoming,” Terry said. “It’s not just
enough to say we’re welcoming.
We have to ask the people that we
represent are we welcoming. We
have to look at actually policies that
we can measure. So, I think it’s just a
way of holding us accountable.”
LOCAL
ATLANTA
Drive-thru flu shots offered
by county health department
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Those in a hurry may have
taken solace in knowing that
the DeKalb County Board of
Health hosted its annual drive-
thru flu vaccination clinic.
Participants of the clinic
received a flu shot without
leaving their vehicles.
The clinic was held Sept. 7
at Northlake Mall near Macy’s.
The drive-thru flu shot
vaccination clinic was
DeKalb Board of Health’s
second annual drive-thru
clinic, according to Clinical
Operations Manager Don
Brundage.
Brundage said the clinic is
optimal for patients on the go.
“What we’re trying to do
is make the flu shot accessible
to everyone in the county,”
Brundage said. “One of the
ways to do that is with the
COUNTYWIDE
Staffing levels increase for DeKalb public safety
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
For years, DeKalb residents and
public safety officials have complained
about high turnover rates within
various departments.
At the start of 2018, newly hired
deputy chief operating officer of public
safety Jack Lumpkin was tasked with
addressing the county’s public safety
attrition issues, strengthening relations
with the community and enhancing
coordination and communications for
emergency and disaster responses.
During a county commission
meeting, Lumpkin said public safety
and staffing levels are improving
throughout DeKalb.
With 92 public safety recruits in
attendance, Lumpkin announced
staffing levels have increased for police,
fire and 911 communications.
“Under the leadership of CEO
Michael Thurmond, we are hiring
more character-based individuals
#ITSINTHECHAMPION
drive-thru clinic. We’re trying
to make it more convenient for
citizens.”
According to board of
health officials, a flu shot is
recommended for everyone six
months and older, particularly
young children, pregnant
women, people with chronic
diseases and people older than
65 who may be at high risk of
serious complications.
“We want to make this an
annual event and let people
know we will be here around
the same time every year,”
Brundage said.
Brundage also said events
such as the drive-thru clinic
can help “dispel the myth” that
the flu shot causes the flu or is
ineffective.
According to Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), flu vaccines
given with a needle either
contain viruses that have been
DeKalb County officials are working to increase staffing
levels among public safety personnel in 2018.
and reducing the attrition rates
in our police, 911 and fire rescue
departments,” said Lumpkin.
According to DeKalb officials, a
fiscal year 2016 budget included $7.9
million to fund 155 police positions,
revamp public safety recruitment efforts
and enhance hiring processes.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 7
‘inactivated’ and are therefore
not infectious, or with no flu
vaccine viruses at all.
The CDC also stated
that multiple studies were
conducted in which some
people received inactivated
flu shots and others received
salt-water shots. The study
found the only differences
in symptoms was increased
soreness in the arm and
redness at the injection site
among people who got the flu
shot. There were no differences
in terms of body aches, fever,
cough, runny nose or sore
throat.
“We want to squash
the myth that the flu shot
doesn’t work. What it does
is strengthen your immune
system against catching that
virus,” Brundage said. “If you
do have the virus, it can lessen
the symptoms.”
DeKalb County Board of Health held its second annual drive-thru clinic Sept. 7.
Lumpkin said he’s trying to address shortages,” Thurmond said.
“why” public safety personnel are According to Lumpkin, in the
leaving DeKalb. He said money is past five years DeKalb County Police
not the main reason individuals leave Department has been down 20 to
DeKalb County. 40 officers per year. DKPD added 25
“The number one issue is how their officers this year, Lumpkin said.
supervisors feel about them and their Additionally, the county’s 911
mental, psychological and physical emergency center will be fully staffed
well-being,” Lumpkin said. “We’re in October. The department had been
working on the whys...we’re going to short 11 personnel positions.
manage our millennials and others “They are probably the most
and let them know they are the most important because they answer the
important asset. We’re competitive and telephones,” Lumpkin said. “We’ll hire
the raises [DeKalb commissioners] 11 additional [employees] in October
introduced last year has made us and that will get us to our budgeted
competitive. We’re not at the top...yet.” [126 employee] amount.”
The fiscal year 2018 budget also In the future, Lumpkin said he
included “more competitive” salary would like to add additional academies
structure for DeKalb County public for training and increase yearly
safety staff with a 3 percent pay academies from four to six.
increase. “Four academies per year does not
“DeKalb County’s significant help us close the gaps that we need to
investments in recruitment, retention close,” Lumpkin said.
and compensation have helped the
county to overcome staffing challenges
and relieve critical public safety
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 8

COUNTYWIDE

Hometown hero goes above and beyond

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Thirty-four-year military veteran
and Columbia High School graduate
Richard Dix has a knack for helping
others.
Dix grew up in Lynwood Park
and Decatur and said the area shaped
the man he is today. Because of his
connection with community members,
Dix uses his skills to help others, he
said.
Dix said he often speaks at
Columbia High School’s “Destined to
Soar” program. The program features
professionals and Columbia High
alumni and allows them to interact
with students by sharing their success
Columbia High School graduate Richard Dix.
stories.
“A lot of the things I’ve been doing
have been centered [on all aspects of
being] a student, being an example and
telling my story,” Dix said. “I want to
relate to the kids who grew up in the
same areas I’ve grown up in.”
After retirement, Dix said he
couldn’t “sit back” and not help his
community, which is why he teaches
students and adults a five-year plan
program.
Dix said the plan was originally
used to help military personnel, but he
helped develop a child-friendly version.
Dix has been mentoring in various
schools by helping students strategize
what to do when they graduate high
school.
“I want them to dream about what
they want to do, who they want to be
and help them map out how they’re
going to get there from the seventh and
eighth grade,” Dix said.
Dix has used this program to
mentor at Columbia High School,
Chamblee High School, Wesleyan
School and other schools around the
country. Dix said he also plans to create
a mentoring and tutoring project with
South DeKalb County Elementary
School.
Dix said he wants to help students
through school just as his mentors did
when he was growing up.
According to Dix, Lera Buckner,
a former guidance counselor at
Columbia High School, stopped Dix
in the hallway when he was a student
and inspired him to push himself
academically and in his future career
path.
“She told me I was playing around
in school and not meeting my full
potential. She said we needed to talk
about my future and I thought ‘I’m
in the eighth grade, what future?’”
Dix said. “She had photos on her wall
of great people who graduated from
Columbia High School and she said
[my picture] could be on her wall. She
knew which button to push to motivate
me. That’s all it took. It’s like I had a
transformation.”
Dix said from that point on he
was hungry to reach his dream of
becoming an officer in the Army. Dix
graduated high school as an honor
student and attended South Carolina
State University on a four-year football
scholarship. After he graduated from
Army officer basic course in 1987, he
served as a tank platoon leader in the
24th infantry division.
Dix’s military awards include
Legion of Merit, Bronze Star,
Meritorious Service Medal, the
Army Commendation Medal, The
NATO Defense Medal, Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal, Global War on
Terror Service/Expeditionary Medal,
Afghanistan Campaign Medal, South
West Asia Service Medal, The Kuwait
Liberation Medal, and the Army
Achievement Medal.
Kathy Wells, who said she has
known Dix “all her life,” said he is an
inspiration to his community and to
her.
“He is just one of the warmest,
nicest people you can meet,” Wells
said. “He grew up on the northside of
Brookhaven in one of the oldest Black
communities. He serves the community
unlike any other young person I know.
His greatest goal now is to give back to
his community. He works with young
and elderly people by motivating and
encouraging them to be the best that
they can be.”
Dix said he “thanks God every day”
for his ability to spread positivity to
students and youth. He has been in
remission from prostate cancer for a
year.
“Without [God] none of this would
be possible,” Dix said.

MARTA Continued From Page 2A

Comprehensive Operations
Analysis has largely been
experienced in DeKalb as the
consolidation and elimination
of routes that MARTA deems
marginal, but new services
and technologies purported to
replace the obsolete ones have
been conditioned on additional
funding from DeKalb.”
In a statement sent to The
Champion Sept. 14, MARTA
officials said the transit system
“takes seriously the concerns
raised by our longtime partners
in DeKalb County.”
“We have been in
conversation with CEO Michael
Thurmond and Commissioner
Jeff Rader about the issues
they have outlined, and we
are already taking steps to
address them,” MARTA
said. “For example, MARTA
has accelerated bus shelter
installations in DeKalb County
over the last three weeks and
we are exploring ways to make
additional improvements.
MARTA General Manager/
CEO Jeff Parker has also taken
a trip to Minneapolis with
elected officials in DeKalb
this week to look at transit
technologies that could be used
to further enhance mobility
services in the county.”
Thursday
If Gwinnett County voters
approve a referendum in the September 27
March 2019 special election,
a one-percent sales tax would 7:00 p.m.
be collected in Gwinnett to
fund transit operations, capital Decatur Marriott Conference Center • 130 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030
expenses and expansion Free event parking!
through 2057, according to
All proceeds from the event support DeKalb County Public Library’s new family literacy program PRIME TIME Preschool.
MARTA. Projections show
the sales tax would raise Tickets may be purchased for $70.00 per person online at
approximately $170 million per dekalblibraryfoundation.org
year, or $5 billion during that
period, according to MARTA. Sponsors
Gwinnett adopted a
transit development plan that
proposed a heavy-rail line from
the Doraville train station to
Gwinnett Place Mall along the
I-85 corridor as well as bus
rapid transit and increased local
bus service.

WE ARE SOCIAL #ITSINTHECHAMPION

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

Students from C5 Georgia, a nonprofit organization, volunteered to paint classrooms at Tucker Recreation Center. Photos from Friends of Tucker Rec Center’s Facebook page

Thirty-four-year military veteran and Columbia High School graduate Richard Dix poses with other Columbia High
School graduates at the school’s “Destined to Soar” program.

Students from Hess Academy spend time with Decatur Police Department and Decatur Fire and Rescue. Volunteer Priscilla Rhoades cautions drivers to slow down during her shift on south Candler Street.

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

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

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

EDUCATION
ATLANTA
Tinsley, panel discuss poverty’s affect on education
TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Local leaders in education
gathered at the Georgia Pacific
Center auditorium Aug. 28 to
talk about how poverty affects
public education in the Atlanta
area.
The panel included Vasanne
Tinsley, DeKalb County School
District deputy superintendent;
Jeff Rose, Fulton County
Schools superintendent;
Morcease Beasley, Clayton
County Schools superintendent;
Beverly Ferguson, Georgia
Pacific senior director; Frank
Brown, Communities In
Schools of Atlanta CEO; and
Milton Little, United Way of
Greater Atlanta president.
Ann Cramer moderated the
discussion.
The panel addressed a
crowd of approximately 75 and
answered moderated questions.
Cramer asked the panel how
the metro Atlanta educational
systems have improved since
the Civil Rights Movement and
the war on poverty. Brown and
Beasley then discussed how
home ownership across races
differs since the Civil Rights
Movement and how tax dollars
affect public education.
“If you don’t have
homeowners, it affects the tax
fare that provides money to the
schools,” said Brown. “Poverty
is at the forefront of what we’re
fighting today.”
Brown’s CIS Atlanta
is a drop-out prevention
organization founded in Atlanta
in 1971. Its mission is to have
every student the organization
touches graduate high school by
removing nonacademic barriers
so that students can focus on
their studies.
“It’s the policies that impact
the outcomes,” Beasley said.
“Everyone in America who’s
honest knows that the reason
White Americans have a high
ownership rate is because there
were policies that supported
White Americans owning
homes. The reason Black
Americans don’t have as high
a home ownership rate is
because those policies were not
in support of Black Americans
owning homes.”
Beasley acknowledged that
progress has been made since
the Civil Rights Movement but
a gap in home ownership still
exists.
“We have to look at polices
to give students the opportunity
Education officials form a panel to speak about how poverty affects public education. Panelist include (from left to right): Morcease Beasley, Jeff Rose, Vasanne Tinsley,
Beverly Ferguson, Milton Little and Frank Brown.
Vasanne Tinsley, DeKalb County School District deputy superintendent, speaks about
education Aug. 28. Photos by Taylor Robins
to succeed,” Beasley said.
Panel members agreed
that policies affecting public
education directly and
indirectly need to be looked
at to open opportunities for all
students of every financial level.
“While there have been a
lot of accomplishments. We
also have some things to pay
attention to,” Tinsley said. “We
have to understand the policies
but we also have to understand
the real impact of all this work
on the students.”
Ferguson suggested
investing in children early by
challenging the crowd to believe
that all children can learn at a
high level.
“We have people [who]
don’t believe that all children
can learn at a higher level,”
Ferguson said. “They don’t
understand that poverty
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 10
isn’t the issue, it’s a barrier to
education. People in 2018 don’t
have the will to see our children
come out of poverty. That is a
problem.”
Ferguson then discussed
the Buford City Schools’
superintendent who had been
recorded during a racist rant
and asked if people were ready
to actually discuss poverty.
In a question of how to
improve performance and
decrease performance gaps
in public schools and more
affluent schools, Brown pushed
the importance of CIS Atlanta
and removing financial barriers.
“The issue isn’t a
performance gap,” Rose said.
“The issue is an opportunity
gap. Talking about performance
creates the wrong narrative.
We know what it means to be
privileged but privileged people
have no idea what it’s like to be
poor without opportunities.”
After Rose talked about
opportunities, Beasley talked
about diversifying advanced
placement classes.
“I don’t want to walk into
an advanced placement class
and see all White or Hispanic
students,” Beasley said. “In
Clayton County I shouldn’t
have 20 advanced placement
classes in one school and none
in the other.”
Tinsley then suggested that
“wrap-around services” such as
those provided by CIS Atlanta
shouldn’t be provided for
only economically challenged
students.
In a conversation about how
schools were integrated in the
civil rights era, Ferguson talked
about how Black communities
were dismantled while
integrating.
“We tore apart the
community,” Ferguson said. “It
was a village that made sure the
children were all right. If we
don’t get back to community,
we’re going to be sitting in the
same place 10 years later talking
about the same thing.”
An educator in the crowd
asked panelist about students
having [criminal] records
before graduation, what schools
systems will do about students
who suffer from PTSD due to
their home life, how to change
students’ relationships with
law enforcement and how to
improve students’ transition
into adulthood.
Clayton County Schools has
a partnership with the Juvenile
Justice Department and the
youth court system, according
to Beasley.
“We have some practices
and strategies to avoid students
getting caught up in the legal
system prematurely,” he said. “I
really believe that leadership has
to develop those partnerships
with legal agencies to ensure
that we have other routes to
help our students navigate the
issues they may deal with.”
Beasley also suggested social
and emotional training for
teachers to learn how to identify
students’ issues and respond
appropriately.
Concerning students’
relationships with law
enforcement, Tinsley told
attendees that she recently
mandated that school resource
officers and campus supervisors
undergo mental health
awareness training.
Ferguson also suggested that
the public get to know chiefs
of police as a way to familiarize
each to the other.
As a final thought, Little
stressed the importance of
voting for area and education
officials.
The panel discussion
was hosted by Communities
in Schools of Atlanta and
WonderRoot and the Atlanta
Super Bowl Host Committee.
EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 11

Education Briefs
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Registration date for upcoming
ACT testing
Students wanting to take the Oct.
27 ACT test should register by Sept.
28.
There will be five other tests
during the 2018-2019 school year,
according to the ACT Twitter
account.
Agnes Scott College welcomes
large freshman class
Agnes Scott College welcomed
the largest class in its history Aug.
23 with 325 first-year students.
The first-year students represent
28 states and 11 countries, including
China, Brazil, Canada, India,
Jamaica, Nepal, Nigeria, Somalia,
South Sudan, the United Kingdom
and Vietnam. Five percent of first-
year students are international
students. of 30,000-50,000 students and
Previously, the college’s largest large classes may not be the best
classes had been 272 first-year fit. Because of perceived costs, James Womack, (A)Deniz and Michael
students in 2015 and 2016. many of those students never even Dunne show some of their shop’s
products at a recent open house.
apply to a small private college like (B) Some CBD products are taken orally;
Oglethorpe University to match Oglethorpe. We want to change others are rubbed in or taken other
flagship state tuition in all 50 those misconceptions.”
states for qualified students Minimum qualifications for Paraprofessional fired
Flagship 50 include a cumulative after being accused of
Oglethorpe University is GPA of 3.5 and at least a 1250
launching Flagship 50, a merit combined SAT or 26 ACT breaking student’s arm
tuition scholarship program open to composite score.
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
students across the country.
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Beginning fall semester 2019, Dunaire and Sagamore Hills
Oglethorpe will match the in-state teachers named among top 10 in
tuition at the flagship institution metro Atlanta James Womack was
arrested and fired from DeKalb
of each U.S. state for qualified
County School District Sept. 11
incoming freshmen. Dunaire Elementary music after video caught him allegedly
“Many students and their teacher Chelsea Cook and breaking a middle school
student’s arm.
families believe they must attend a Sagamore Hills Elementary
The former Tucker Middle
large state school because they can’t science, technology, engineering School paraprofessional
afford a private college education,” and mathematics (STEM) teacher allegedly used excessive force
said Oglethorpe University Stephanie Spencer were recently on a student with autism Aug
20.
President Larry Schall. “For many honored by The Atlanta-Journal
Womack, who worked
of the most talented students, Constitution as part of the 2018 AJC with students with disabilities
their state’s flagship university is Celebrating Teachers Awards. at Tucker Middle School, was
the most desirable of their public seen on surveillance video
yanking and pulling at the
options, even though a campus
seventh-grade student until the
student’s arm broke, according
to DeKalb County School
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING District police.
The following day, he was

This could The Mayor and City Council of the City of

Chamblee, Georgia will hold a public hearing on
Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the Chamblee Civic
removed from the classroom
and placed on administrative
leave pending an investigation

be your ad! Center, 3540 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341 at

6:00 p.m. to receive public comments regarding the
following matters:
from the Office of Legal Affairs,
according to the school district.
He returned to work Sept.
•PZ2018-333: Applicant: Anthony DelGuidice, 11, where he was arrested by
Call SLX Grande Atlanta, LLC; Owner: Downtown
Development Authority of Chamblee requests
DeKalb County School District
and fired.
approval of a variance from the City of Chamblee “The health and safety of
404.373.77779 Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Unified
Development Ordinance, Sec. 260-10(e)(2) to
our students is, and always
will be, the number one
increase the square footage of temporary signage priority at DeKalb County
TODAY! allowed on a construction fence. The property School District,” DCSD
superintendent R. Stephen

REDUCE
is located at 5211 Peachtree Blvd, being DeKalb
County tax parcel 18 299 13 005, and zoned Green said. “For this reason,
Transit Oriented Development. the district has responded
swiftly to the incident at Tucker
Middle School by immediately
NOTICE OF INTENT TO EXERCISE POWER OF
REUSE
ending James Womack’s
EMINENT DOMAIN employment and removing
ATTENTION: Amitava Sen, Owner him from the school. The
ATTENTION: Suzanne Sen, Owner behavior demonstrated by Mr.
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Mayor and Commissioners of the City of Womack in no way represents

RECYCLE Avondale Estates, Georgia, will consider exercising its power of eminent domain to
condemn a portion of the real property known as 3200 Kensington Road (DeKalb
County tax parcel no. 15-250-03-014) at its meeting to be held October 8, 2018 at
the high standards that our
15,500-member workforce
upholds on a daily basis.”
6:01p.m. at City Hall, 21 N. Avondale Plaza, Avondale Estates, Georgia 30032. Womack is facing charges of
If approved, the Resolution to Authorize Exercise of Eminent Domain would direct aggravated battery child cruelty
the City Attorney to initiate legal action to condemn an easement upon 874 square feet in the first degree. Womack
(0.02 acres) of the subject property for the public purpose of installing a stormwater appeared in court Sept. 12.
conveyance underground.
All interested parties are invited to attend the meeting.
 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 12

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BUSINESS
DECATUR
Specialty store offers variety of cannabis oil products
BY KATHY MITCHELL
Freelance Reporter
Although Michael Dunne is
an entrepreneur who has owned
and worked with a variety of
businesses during his career, his
latest enterprise, he said, is more
than another financial venture.
“I first learned about CBD
after I had surgery. I was in
a lot of pain and was having
trouble making a full recovery.
I remember getting off an
airplane and being unable to
leave the concourse. I sat in a
chair for more than an hour
before I could go on. My wife
started researching pain relief
possibilities and that’s when we
discovered CBD,” said Dunne,
adding that he and his wife and
business partner Deniz Dunne
“are committed to helping the
community and believe in the
beneficial properties of CBD,
which has long been used as a
natural remedy.”
After looking into the
companies offering CBD, Dunne
said he was most impressed
with CBD American Shaman,
headquartered in Kansas City,
Mo. After trying the company’s
pain relief products, Dunne
was so impressed he bought a
franchise. In August, he opened
the first CBD American Shaman
store in Georgia on North Druid
Hills Road in Decatur.
“In the three and half weeks
we’ve been open we’ve had people
come in and tell us they’ve gotten
relief from neuropathic pain,
arthritis pain, anxiety, sleep
disorders and depression,” Dunne
said, adding that some users
report higher levels of energy and
greater ability to focus.
“There is serious concern in
this country about overuse of
opioids. Some say it’s at crisis
levels. It’s great to know there are
products that provides natural
relief from a wide variety of
complaints.” Dunne said while
some pain relievers simply make
symptoms go away, “CBD can
actually help heal the body’s
receptors. CBD is created
naturally in our bodies; we just
don’t produce it in large enough
quantities.”
Dunne said neither he nor
his wife are medical doctors and
they encourage people to work
with their health care providers
on all health-related matters.
“Many doctors today take a
holistic approach to healing and
sometimes recommend CBD-
based products as alternatives to
pharmaceuticals,” he noted.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 13
The specialty store features an
array of CBD-based products—
some to be swallowed and others
to be rubbed on—that include a
line of skincare lotions, ointments
and serums and its signature line
of patent-pending water-soluble
oils and tinctures.
The store also offers CBD-
based products for pets. “The
products are excellent for anxiety
relief for cats and dogs during
thunderstorms, when fireworks
are being set off or for pets
that have separation anxiety
problems,” Dunne said.
The products are made from
cannabidiol, a type of cannabis
oil known as CBD. “Of course,
when people hear cannabis they
immediately think marijuana.
While it originates from the same
plant, it’s sold in a form that’s
both legal and non-intoxicating,” Deniz and Michael Dunne show some of their shop’s products at a recent open house.
Dunne explained. “CBD oil
is legal to sell in Georgia. It
has less than .3 percent of the
hallucinogenic THC, and thus
does not create a ‘high’ or any
form of intoxication for users.
CBD-based products are not
regulated by the FDA and fall into
the ‘supplement’ category.”
While the products sold by
CBD American Shaman are legal
in all 50 states, growing cannabis
is not legal in Georgia nor in
most other states. The company’s
products, according to its website,
originate with plants grown
legally in Norway. “The import
process is complex,” the website
states. “We must provide samples
to the FDA, DEA and Homeland
Security for testing. The industrial
hemp paste is held in quarantine
until all government agencies sign
off that the THC levels are within Some CBD products are taken orally; others are rubbed in or taken other ways.
the legal limits—essentially
nonexistent.”
As a non-FDA-regulated
product, cannabis oil available
on the market can vary widely in
quality and effectiveness, Dunne
said. He said he visited the CBD
American Shaman headquarters
and discussed the manufacture
process with the company
founder. “He confidently and
thoroughly answered all my
questions. I’m convinced this is
the most effective and highest
quality CBD oil on the market
today.”
Dunne said Decatur was
an ideal place to open his first
store. “Decatur is a very health-
conscience community. It also is
a community with many animal
lovers,” he said, adding that he has
plans to open an additional five
stores in Georgia.
CBD oil products are legal in Georgia as long as they contain less than .3 percent THC.
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Cedar Grove is 2-0 against the Lovett Lions in coach Jermaine Smith’s tenure. Photo by Travis Hudgons/iShootAtlanta Photography
The Champion's game of the week:
CEDAR GROVE VS. LOVETT
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Throughout the rest of the regular season, The
Champion will select a “game of the week” before
Friday night’s slate of games and write a preview for
the selected game.
For the week of Sept. 21, the game of the week
is Cedar Grove vs. Lovett. The game will be held at
Godfrey Stadium with a kickoff time of 7:30 p.m.
The Class AAA No. 2-ranked Cedar Grove Saints,
who had a bye week last week, suffered their first loss
against Class AAAAAAA No. 9-ranked McEachern
on the road.
The Saints (3-1) are looking to get back in the
win column and should do so against Lovett (1-
3). Cedar Grove is 2-0 against the Lovett Lions in
coach Jermaine Smith’s tenure. With an offense that
features the No. 1-ranked wide receiver in the nation
Jadon Haselwood, and running backs Robert Jones
III and Rashad Dubinion, the Saints should have no
problems scoring points on a Lovett defense that has
allowed 40 points or more in two games this season.
The Saints’ running game could play a big role
in this matchup. Jones leads all team rushers with
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 14
349 yards on 38 carries (9.2 yards/carry) and four
touchdowns this season. Dubinion, a freshman,
has 27 carries for 204 yards (7.6/carry) and two
touchdowns in four games.
So far, the quarterback rotation of senior Kendal
Boney and sophomore Austin Smith has worked out
well for Cedar Grove. Boney has been a bonus to the
Saints’ rushing attack, scoring three touchdowns on
the season. Smith has gotten the ball in the end zone
through the air, throwing for four touchdowns on the
season (30-of-43 passes for 297 yards).
The Saints’ secondary could have a big impact in
this game. Lovett’s quarterback Blaine McAllister
has thrown five interceptions this season. Lovett also
has struggled to run the ball this season, averaging
just 78.3 rushing yards per game. With a defense led
by linebacker Isaiah Ratcliff and defensive lineman
Rashad Chaney, the Saints should have no problems
stopping the run.
Other weekend matchups
Sept. 20
M.L. King (1-2) at Mundy’s Mill (3-2), 7 p.m. at
Twelve Oaks Stadium (Clayton County)
Sept. 21
Forsyth Central (3-1) vs. Clarkston (0-5), 5:15 p.m. at
Adams Stadium
Hapeville Charter (3-0) vs. McNair (2-2), 5:15 p.m. at
Avondale Stadium
Westminster (2-2) vs. Towers (0-4), 5:15 p.m. at
Hallford Stadium
Bremen (3-0) vs. Cross Keys (0-5), 5:15 p.m. at
North DeKalb Stadium
Decatur (1-2) at Grady (1-3), 5:30 p.m.
Chamblee (0-4) at Coffee Co. (5-0), 7:30 p.m.
Marist (3-1) at White County (1-3) 7:30 p.m.
Redan (0-4) at Pace Academy (2-2), 7:30 p.m.
St. Pius (4-1) at Loganville (2-3), 7:30 p.m.
Tucker (2-2) vs. Drew (1-3), 7:30 p.m., Southern
Crescent Stadium (Clayton County)
Meadowcreek (4-0) vs. Lakeside (1-3), 8 p.m. at
Adams Stadium
Shiloh (1-3) vs. Lithonia (3-1), 8 p.m. at Avondale
Stadium
Stockbridge (4-0) vs. Columbia (1-3), 8 p.m. at
Hallford Stadium
Alpharetta (2-1) vs. Dunwoody (1-3), 8 p.m. at
North DeKalb Stadium
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 15

FOOTBALL

Decatur to play first

home game Oct. 5
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Decatur High School will
host its first football game of
the season in week eight.
The Bulldogs have not had
a home game this season due
to damage to the football field
after a series of thunderstorms
the field up, put wrinkles in
the field, shifted a lot of the
gravel and pretty much ruined
the field. So, the field is not
playable.”
A source told The
Champion Sept. 6 that the new
field turf was being installed
that day, which was later than New turf for Decatur High School’s football field is being installed. Decatur is expected to play its first home game Oct. 5. Photo
expected. Decatur had hoped by Carla Parker
to have its first home game
Sept. 7 against St. Pius X, but road games before closing out

in June. Decatur Athletic
Director Rodney Thomas
told The Champion in August
that the entire field had to be
the game was moved to St.
Pius.
Decatur had an open week
Sept. 14 and its next two
NEXT
the regular season at home
against Carver-Atlanta Nov. 2,
leaving the Bulldogs with three
total home games this season.

replaced.
“A lot of that storm water
runs through [the school],”
Thomas said. “So, [water] ran
under ground in our parking
lot, blew off some manhole
covers and in turn bloated
the field. All of that water got
beneath the field and it lifted
games were scheduled road
games—at Grady Sept. 21 and
at Riverwood Sept. 28. The
Bulldogs will have their first
home game Oct. 5 against
North Springs, followed by
their homecoming matchup
against Banneker Oct. 12.
Decatur will play two more
LEVEL
Thomas could not disclose
the total cost to replace the
field but said getting new turf
could cost from $400,000 up
to $700,000. The football team
was practicing on a field at the Each week The Champion spotlights former
United Methodist Children’s
Home while the field was being high school players from the county who are
replaced. succeeding in athletics on the college level.

Isaiah Zuber, Kansas

State (football): The
junior wide receiver
from Stephenson had
seven receptions for 144
yards and scored two
touchdowns in the 41-17
win over UTSA Sept. 15.

Ravarius Rivers, Valdosta

State (football): The
junior cornerback from
M.L. King had eight total
tackles (seven solo), an
interception returned for
66 yards and two pass
breakups in the 58-24
win over West Alabama
Lithonia fell to Pebblebrook 49-7. Photo by Travis Hudgons/iShootAtlanta Photography
Sept. 15.

WEEKLY SCORES
Sept. 13 Heritage (2-2) 28, Arabia Mountain (2-3) 21
Stephenson (3-1) 34, Morrow (1-4) 8 Johnson-Gainesville (4-1) 58, Cross Keys (0-5) 0
KIPP Academy (2-3) 39, McNair (2-2) 28 Luella (2-2) 25, Druid Hills (2-2) 3
Northview (3-1) 35, Dunwoody (1-3) 7 Jaya Martin, Hiram
Sept. 15 Pebblebrook (2-2) 49, Lithonia (3-1) 7 College (volleyball): The
M.L. King Jr. (1-2) 28, Mt. Zion (0-4) 21 Pickens Co. (4-0) 49, Chamblee (0-4) 6 sophomore outside hitter
Southwest DeKalb (5-0) 26, Lovejoy (2-2) 16 from Arabia Mountain
St. Pius X (4-1) 17, Marist (3-1) 0 Open: Cedar Grove (3-1), Columbia (1-3), had four kills and 14 total
Tucker (2-2) 36, Mundy’s Mill (3-2) 35 OT Decatur (1-2), Redan (0-4), attacks in the 3-2 win
Berkmar (2-2) 17, Clarkston (0-5) 0 Stone Mountain (0-4), Towers (0-4) over Albion Sept. 15.
Coffee County (5-0) 35, Miller Grove (1-3) 7
Forsyth Central (3-1) 47, Lakeside (1-3) 0
LOCAL
ELLENWOOD
Future uncertain for Sugar Creek Golf and Tennis Center
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
At one point, Sugar Creek Golf
Course was a top-rated golfing
experience, according to some DeKalb
County residents. In recent years,
however, Sugar Creek Golf and Tennis
Center has been in a state of disrepair.
County officials have not decided
what to do with Sugar Creek Golf
and Tennis Center, but a report from
National Golf Foundation projected the
cost of maintenance and revenue from
2019 to 2023. According to the report,
if Sugar Creek’s golf course were to
open to the public in 2019, it would lose
approximately $2.8 million over the next
five years, including a negative operating
income of $692,000 in the first year.
Currently, the facility’s tennis courts
are open to the public, but amenities
such as the golf course, driving range
and club house are closed.
The report projected the golf course
would earn approximately $370,000
in revenue its first year, adjusting for
driving range fees, food and beverage
sales, golf merchandise sales and golfing
fees. NGF projects the course would
gain approximately $706,000 in total
revenue by 2023.
You can help alleviate hunger right in your community.
Just donate to Food for Sharing at checkout
September 6–22, 2018, to help those in need.
“For the first time, I think we’ve
taken a true look at the five-year cost of
operation. It’s been talked about quite
a bit,” said DeKalb County COO Zach
Williams. “As a result, I think we have
a plan that places future investments
for golf and tennis in appropriate
context. We have put together a realistic
investment plan.”
From 2012 to 2017 Cornerstone
Golf managed, maintained and
operated Sugar Creek Golf and Tennis
Center. According to county officials,
Cornerstone Golf terminated its
agreement with DeKalb County in
October 2017.
DeKalb County Recreation, Parks
and Cultural Affairs Director Chuck
Ellis said the initial cost for capital
improvements and future investments is
approximately $1.7 million. According
to Ellis, $1 million in funds is available
through the county’s Special Purpose
Local Option Sales Tax and an
additional $600,000 through hotel and
motel taxes.
One of the biggest costs for capital
improvements is upgrading the
facility’s lighting system ($419,000)
and renovating the grass ($254,000),
according to the NGF report.
Ellis said an “action plan” has been
created to take a step-by-step approach
publix.com/foodforsharing
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • Page 16
in reopening the facility if funding is
approved. Officials would first open
tennis courts for public use, select a
contractor to operate tennis programs,
hire a facility supervisor to coordinate,
manage and promote Sugar Creek
programs, open the club house and
driving range for public use, hire a golf
course general manager and a course
maintenance company, repair and
renovate Sugar Creek’s golf course and
open it to the public.
“We wanted to put together an
action plan with objectives and we put
these together in order as we saw them
happening,” Ellis said. “The action plan
was probably the most difficult thing
we’ve been tasked with.” A recent report from National Golf Foundation stated
Sugar Creek Golf Course could lose approximately
Ellis also suggested county officials $2.8 million in its first five years if reopened.
consider opening the 310-acre facility as
a park. at that. We have to decide where a
“We are golf professionals, so if you half million would go in the budget
asked us if we wanted to open the golf otherwise. We did not review fees in
course we would probably be the first the revenue section, so that’s something
ones to be your cheerleaders,” Ellis said. still to come,” said DeKalb County
“We also have a mindset that there is a Commissioner Kathie Gannon.
cost to this.” “Obviously, I’ve been through this
According to the report, opening rodeo before; 2012 was just the recent
Sugar Creek as a park only would cost change in how we’ve managed this
DeKalb approximately $2.1 million in its property. There were at least a couple of
first five years of operation. models before that, and none of them
“The financial implications are were terribly successful,” Gannon added.  
large, and we have to take a look
TM