the DeKalb FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019 • VOL. 24, NO.

39• 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

Local chef winner in contest

of healthful school lunch
BY GALE HORTON GAY Her dish is made up of potatoes, carrots,

S
onion, curry, ginger, soy, garlic and sugar.
chool lunch shouldn’t be a dread- The chef said it wasn’t easy.
ed affair. Obunai, who is a chef at an Atlanta pri-
That’s what Decatur chef Mi- vate school, said her children Kai, 10, and
hoko Obunai was trying to convey when Yohan, 14, are her inspiration. They attend
she entered the Chef Ann Foundation’s City Schools of Decatur school and she
(CAF) Real School Food Challenge. packs their lunch daily.
On Oct. 28 Obanai was chosen as the “They don’t eat any school lunch be-
winner among five finalists at the StarsChefs cause it’s horrible,” said Obunai who added
International Congress in New York based that she’s watched whole trays of food being
on taste, presentation and overall points. tossed in the trash by students dissatisfied
Her dish, Japanese chicken curry rice, met with the offerings.
USDA healthy meal guidelines and was pro- Without a healthy meal, students are un-
duced at a food cost of approximately $1.25, able to focus and learn, Obunai said.
the average budget for a school lunch in the She said cafeteria workers need to be
United States, according to CAF. The na- trained in food and nutrition to produce
tional challenge was developed to help bring healthier, tastier meals for students.
awareness to the need to improve school “They need to be trained properly, not
food, according to CAF.  just open packages and cans,” said Obunai.
“When chefs get excited about school “Use seasonal produce that’s tastier.”
food, it inspires thousands of school food Obunai’s dish was featured at Decatur’s
professionals across the country,” said Brush restaurant during October with pro-
Mara Fleishman, CAF CEO. “This event ceeds benefitting CAF.
has been so important for raising awareness She added that at the private school
about an issue that affects millions of to- where she works meals are prepared from
day’s youth.” scratch.
Obanai said she is very proud of the ac- “It’s hard. It’s hard to train. It’s hard to
complishment. learn,” said Obunai. Mihoko Obunai shows off her Japanese chicken curry rice dish that won in a
competition to raise awareness about school lunch. Photo provided

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

LOCAL
STONE MOUNTAIN
City renames street to honor community leaders
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Stone Mountain City
Council voted to rename
Venable Street Eva Mamie
Lane at its Nov. 7 regular
meeting.
The new street name
honors the late Eva Jewel
Greene and her daughter
Mamie Ella Lane. Residents
petitioned to have the street
renamed to recognize Greene’s
and Lane’s work in Stone
Mountain.
Greene was a founder of
DeKalb Economic Opportunity
Authority in 1966 and served
as the authority’s director and
community organizer for three
decades. She also founded
Stone Mountain Negro Civic
League and served as its
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • Page 2
president for more than 20
years.
Lane founded House
of Bethel Church in 1963.
The church had an outreach
ministry that clothed, fed
and educated children in the
community. In 1974, Green
and Lane co-founded Georgia
Citizens Coalition on Hunger.
Greene died Jan. 1, 2006, and
Lane died on Feb. 2.
Venable Street is named
after former Stone Mountain
mayor James Venable, who
organized and was the Imperial
Wizard of the National Knights
of the Klan. According
to residents, Venable led
marches and held rallies in
Shermantown from the 1960s
through 1980s promoting racial
hatred and intolerance, inciting
fear in the community.
Venable Street is named after former Stone Mountain mayor James Venable, who organized and was the imperial
wizard of the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. File Photo
OPINION
As I ponder my next move and
whether I want to renew my current
lease, I think back to a few weeks ago
when I was in an Uber with a middle-
aged woman named “Judy,” who was
on her way to her part-time job at Belk.
She was on a fixed income. She
had just moved into a new apartment
community after learning that her rent
would be increasing by $300. She had
been forced to move farther away to
what she felt was a less desirable, but
less costly, area of the county. She has
lived in Clayton County for the past
eight years after being pushed out of
a neighboring county due to a similar
spike in rent.
Judy had no family nearby and did
not want to be a burden on her only
daughter and her family in New York.
So she uprooted her home of nearly a
decade to an area she could still barely
afford.  counties to get the most out of renters
I thought back to 2011 when I was
a recent college graduate.  I had no
job and had to go back home to live
with my parents for a few months.
When I did get a job, I was barely
making $30,000 and had to begin
paying off my student loans. Finding
an apartment, on top of budgeting for
Foreclosures
Tax Sales/Ads for Bids
Trade Name Registrations
Public Notices/Public meetings
Sheriff Sales/Local Legislation
Notices of Incorporation
To subscribe, visit DeKalbLegalNotices.com
or call 404-373-7779, X 0
#ItsInTheChampion
Stop pushing us out!
ASIA ASHLEY
bills and living expenses, was nearly
impossible.
I got a roommate to afford being an
adult outside of my parents’ home.  The Atlanta Regional Commission
Like Judy, I knew the constant
struggle of finding somewhere I can
afford, while still trying to take care of
other necessities.
We began to discuss how
apartments in some of the metro
Atlanta cities and counties were once
affordable. Now, they are competing
with and mirroring other cities and
due to the demand. These ridiculous
hikes are making it increasingly
difficult for even middle-class residents
like Judy and me to come by affordable
housing.
According to an April 2018
report by Zumper, a San Francisco-
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • Page 3
based online rental marketplace, the
average rent for a one-bedroom
apartment in Atlanta increased by 7.5
percent in one year to $1,450 a month.
The Georgia one-bedroom state median
was $1,001.  away from places that they’ve called
As a rule of thumb, most rental
properties require renters to make at
least three times more than the cost of
rent, though it has been reported that
some renters spend up to 50 percent of
their income on rent.
reported in July 2018 that metro
Atlanta rental increases are outpacing
wage growth. Rents in metro Atlanta
increased by 48 percent from 2011 to
2016, while wage growth increased
a mere 10 percent during the same
period.
So what does the increase in
rental prices mean for those like Judy,
who do not receive an increase in
Social Security or retirement income?
Or for those who have taken a job
with minimal pay in hopes that it’s a
stepping stone to other opportunities?  deserve a place in our communities.
Will there be room for any of us in the
future?
It doesn’t seem so; at least not
without a plan.
I get it.  Development and growth
is inevitable. But does that mean people
who are trying to make a living, people
who have contributed to society and the
economy, have to be pushed out and
home?
Though there are plans being
discussed in various communities to
address affordable housing, such as the
city of Atlanta’s proposed One Atlanta
Housing Affordability Action Plan,
such efforts are often not supported by
the more well-off members of society.
But we are all not that different
from each other. The struggle to find
affordable housing may have once been
an issue for you or someone you know,
or could be in the future. 
While no one person or entity
has the resolve for affordable housing
issues, we should support efforts
that attempt to give people like Judy,
recent graduates, and those who work
tirelessly to make ends meet, a safe
and affordable place to call home. We
Stop pushing us out!
OPINION
President Donald Trump is
of course a man whose words and
deeds frequently command our
headlines and attention. We should
of course pay attention to both. On
the subject of veterans, he typically
speaks with great reverence. He
attempted to turn the Fourth of
July in Washington, D.C. into a
celebration of our veterans and the
nation’s military might. He hired
many multi-star generals into his
original Cabinet, though he has
since fired the bulk of them.  though the veterans’ event would
The longer he is in the White
House, and with the way Democrats
appear intent on making these
impeachment proceedings almost
as partisan as possible, their words
versus deeds can also use some
measurement and scrutiny. And as
we look forward to the elections
of 2020, we should also look back,
as with veterans and others, as
this president often takes a public
posture and position which are not
supported later by his actions or the
facts.  uses. The Trump Foundation was
On the eve of the Iowa
Presidential Caucus, in Des Moines
on Jan. 28, 2016, then candidate
Trump chose to decline participation
in a presidential candidate debate
and instead hosted his own veterans
rally and fundraiser just down the
street. According to the Trump
campaign, this rally, put together
in just a few days, would set Iowa
event attendance records and raise
a projected $6 million for veteran
causes and charities.  hanging in one of his hotels, to a
Though plenty of veterans
were in attendance, they were
not consulted, nor meaningfully
included in planning the event. The
Trump Foundation accepted all
donations, including several large
checks from friends and supporters
of the businessman candidate. The
event netted $2.8 million, a tidy
sum, but roughly half what the
president had boasted.  proceeds to veteran causes, the
Days later, Sen. Ted Cruz won
FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
Let Us Know What You Think!
THE DEKALB FREE PRESS encourages opinions from
its readers. Please write to us and express your views.
Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain the
writer’s name, address and telephone number for verifi-
cation. All letters will be considered for publication.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily reflect the opinions
of the editor or publishers. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. The
Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • Page 4
Words and deeds
victim of these proceedings:  quarterly basis. 
‘One Man’s “I am the only person I know,
perhaps the only person in history,
Veterans and their families
are quite accustomed to broken
Opinion’ who can give money to a charity promises, from the VA to other
($19 million), charge no expenses, areas of promised government
Bill Crane and be attacked by the political support. Yet as we recognize
bill.csicrane@gmail.com hacks in New York State,” Tweeted and salute their commitment and
by Trump the evening the settlement sacrifice, we should also hold
was reached.  ourselves and others accountable for
the Iowa Caucus with Trump a very
Perhaps coincidentally, the honoring those promises. Perhaps
close second-place finisher in a
president announced he would be Trump’s opponents should try
large field. 
changing his legal residence to running this one up the flagpole
Months after the fundraiser,
Florida the very same week. And and see how the public and veteran
The Washington Post began asking
communities salute or react to that.
which veterans organizations had
have had expenses; the foundation
received how much from the event
had no employees, no offices Bill Crane also serves as a
or the Trump Foundation, as the
and a board which only rarely political analyst and commentator
president had earlier discussed, and
met which would tend to tamp for Channel 2’s Action News, WSB-
his campaign had released a list
down expenses. The president has AM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5
of veteran charities which Trump
since characterized the $2 million FM, as well as a columnist for The
or his foundation had previously
in damages he is paying as a Champion, DeKalb Free Press and
supported.   
contribution which he is now all too Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb
Research by the Post and later
happy to donate to worthy groups. I native and business owner, living
the New York Office of Attorney
will also note here that the president in Scottdale. You can reach him
General would find that Trump used
donates his presidential salary to a or comment on a column at bill.
the foundation more as a piggy bank
wide array of charitable causes on a csicrane@gmail.com. 
for personal expenses, campaign
expenses and other disallowed
dissolved in December of 2018. 
On the anniversary of his
election week, Trump signed a
agreement with a New York judge
to pay a settlement of $2 million. In
the settlement agreement, Trump
acknowledged, with the legal
protection of non-profit status,
that he and his family frequently
used the foundation for personal
expenses, ranging from $10,000
for a portrait of the president now
variety of lesser campaign expenses. 
The funds which did eventually
pass through to veterans were
predominantly direct gifts by Trump
friends and supporters and only
a tiny fraction of the announced
event gate of the veterans salute in
Iowa.  And while admitting guilt,
violations of state and federal tax
law and misstating the benefits and
president again views himself as the
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
John Hewitt Carla Parker STATEMENT FROM THE
Taylor Robins PUBLISHER
Chief Financial Officer: We sincerely appreciate the
Dr. Earl D. Glenn Social Media Manager: discussion surrounding this and any
Donna Seay issue of interest to DeKalb County.
SEND LETTERS TO EDITOR, Production Manager: The Champion was founded in 1991
expressly to provide a forum for
The DeKalb Free Press, Kemesha Wadley discourse for all community residents
P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; on all sides of an issue. We have no
Send email to Johnh@dekalbchamp.com desire to make the news only to
FAX To: (404) 370-3903; Phone: (404) 373-7779. The DeKalb Free Press is published each Friday report news and opinions to effect
Deadline for news releases and advertising: by ACE III Communications, Inc., a more educated citizenry that will
Thursday, one week prior to publication date. 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030 ultimately move our community
forward. We are happy to present
Phone (404) 373-7779. ideas for discussion; however,
www.championnewspaper.com we make every effort to avoid
printing information submitted to
us that is known to be false and/or
DISPLAY ADVERTISING (404) 373-7779 x 110 assumptions penned as fact.
LOCAL
LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS
Dunwoody to have new mayor
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Current Dunwoody City
Council Member Lynn
Deutsch will become the city’s
new mayor in 2020, after she
received a majority of votes in
the Nov. 5 municipal election.
“I am so humbled,” said
a teary-eyed Deutsch at her
election night party. “The
moment we started I couldn’t
have imagined… I am so
excited.”
Current Dunwoody Mayor
Denis Shortal did not seek
reelection. He announced at the
city’s 10th annual State of the
City April 11 that he would not
seek reelection, saying he wants
to spend more time with this
family. His last day as mayor
will be Dec. 31.
Deutsch has served on
Dunwoody’s city council since
2011 and as mayor pro-tem
since 2017. She has also served
on the Dunwoody Planning
Commission, the Dunwoody
Ernst to remain as Brookhaven mayor
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
After winning a majority of
votes in the Nov. 5 municipal
election, John Ernst will remain
Brookhaven’s mayor.
“Thank you for your
confidence and support,” said
Ernst in a Facebook post to
supporters. “I’ve lived here all
my life and it’s so special to me
to be your mayor and to continue
working to make Brookhaven
the best place to live, work and
play.”
Ernst also thanked his family,
neighbors, campaign volunteers
and campaign team for hard work
put toward Ernst’s reelection
campaign.
Ernst received 4,041 votes
that represented 67.7 percent of
total Brookhaven votes.
“Thanks to my opponent, Jen
Heath, for a spirited race,” he
said.
Lynn Deutsch will become Dunwoody’s
new mayor after winning the municipal
elections Nov. 5. Photo provided by
Tandedm Communications.
Homeowners Association and
her neighborhood Women’s
Club. She has lived in
Dunwoody for 30 years.
“I’m extremely excited
and overwhelmed by the show
of support from the voters
of Dunwoody. We will now
work together to ensure that
the vision to make Dunwoody
a more vibrant and livable
city comes to fruition,” said
Deutsch in a statement.
Deutsch received 4,772
votes, representing 60.6 percent
John Ernst
Heath received 1,906 votes
that represented 31.9 percent of
total Brookhaven votes.
“I want to extend my
sincerest thanks to those that
supported, volunteered and voted
for us,” said Heath in a Facebook
statement. “I say ‘us’ because this
was not about me wanting to be
mayor, it was about us wanting
to be heard. We have done an
amazing job and while the result
is not all that we had hoped for, it
has been a good result.”
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • Page 5
of the total votes cast.
Current Dunwoody City
Council Member Terry Nall
also ran for Dunwoody mayor
and received 3,084 votes,
which was 39.1 percent of the
total. There were 15 write-in
votes.
“Though disappointed in
the final results, I thank the
volunteers who gave their time
[and] the voters who turned
out to cast votes for our vision
of a better Dunwoody,” said
Nall in a Nov. 5 Twitter post.
“Congratulation to [Deutsch]
and council-elect members
Stacey Harris and Joe
Seconder.”
Harris received 4,508
votes, over Robert Miller’s
3,024 votes for the Post 4
position formerly held by Nall.
Seconder received 3,800 votes,
over Heyward Wescott’s 3,550
votes, to represent Deutsch’s
Post 5 position. The new
council members will begin
their terms in 2020.
Heath said getting 32
percent of the votes was “pretty
phenomenal based on the short
timeframe and minimal funding.”
“This is not the end, just the
beginning of the Brookhaven
community being heard,” said
Heath. “We will be continuing
to work so that your voices are
not only heard, but listened to in
regards to city decisions.”
Madeleine Simmons
defeated Dimitrius Owens for
the open District 3 council seat.
Simmons received 1,206 votes
that represent 80.6 percent of
total votes and Owens received
286 votes that represents 19.1
percent of total votes. Simmons’
term will begin in 2020.
Current Brookhaven
City Council member Bates
Mattison─who represents
District 3─did not seek
reelection. Mattison was elected
in 2012.
Donna Pittman Joesph Geierman
Pittman, Geierman
head to run off
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Former Doraville City Council member
Joseph Geierman and current Doraville
Mayor Donna Pittman will compete in a
run-off election for Doraville mayor Dec. 3.
Geierman received 457 votes and
Pittman received 322 votes in the Nov.
5 municipal and special election. For a
candidate to remove an incumbent, the
candidate must receive more than 50
percent of total votes.
“There [have] been a lot of distortions
and underhanded political tricks but we
are ready to stand up for Doraville,” said
Pittman on her Facebook page. “Let’s get to
work to bring it home.”
According to Geierman, the 1,162 votes
cast by Doraville residents is the largest
voter turnout for municipal elections in
Doraville’s history.
“I appreciate all [the] support up to this
point, but [I] need [residents] to come back
for [the run-off] election,” said Geierman
on his Facebook page.
Current Doraville City Council member
MD Naser and Tom Hart also ran for
Doraville mayor. Hart received 119 votes
and Naser received 262 votes.
Doraville will also have four new city
council members who will begin their terms
in 2020. Andy Yeoman will represent
District 1 with current Doraville City
Council Member Robert Patrick after
11-year Doraville City Council Member
Pam Fleming did not run for reelection.
Rebekah Cohen Morris and Chris
Henshaw will represent District 2. Maria
T. Alexander will represent District 3 with
current Doraville City Council Member
Stephe Koontz. Current Doraville City
Council Member Shannon Hillard did not
run for reelection.
FOLLOW US ON
SOCIAL MEDIA
@DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
LOCAL
DECATUR
Students planned to walk out to attend the sentencing of a former Dekalb County police
officer who shot an unarmed man. Photos provided
Students respond to Olsen sentencing with walk out
‘It’s not just an adult issue; soon it’s going to be our issue’
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
The Black Student Union (BSU)
of Decatur High School led a group
of students to the DeKalb County
Courthouse to show support for
Anthony Hill, during school hours,
Nov.1.
Hill was shot and killed by
former DeKalb County Police
Officer Robert Olsen in 2015. Hill
was a veteran who was unarmed
and naked at the time. Olsen was
indicted by a DeKalb County
grand jury in 2016. In October,
Olsen was found not guilty on two
counts of felony murder and guilty
of aggravated assault, making
false statements and two counts of
violation of oath of office.
“We came hoping that our
presence sends a message to the
jurors, judges, lawyers, officers
and everyone going in and out
the courthouse that the youth
care that our justice system, take
responsibility for their actions and
act according to the law. We want
them to abide by the very words
we hear in the morning every day:
liberty and justice for all,” Decatur
High School junior and Black
Student Union Co-President Daxton
Pettus said.
Decatur High School’s Black Student Union outside of the county courthouse to protest Robert Olsen’s sentencing Nov. 1.
DeKalb County Superior Court
Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson
sentenced Olsen to 20 years Nov. 1.
'We came hoping that our support
presence sends a message
to the jurors, judges, lawyers, social
officers and everyone going
in and out the courthouse
that the youth care that our
justice system.'
Daxton Pettus
Olsen will serve 12 years in custody it’s going to be our issue.”
and will serve the remaining eight
years on probation.
“Personally I think this goes to
show that cops are ultimately put
ahead of citizens. Even though the
police were put in place to protect
citizens, at the end of the day they
are going to protect themselves,”
said Pettus. “Olsen not getting his
full 35-year sentence just shows
us that police have the badge
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • Page 6
of approval to do anything they doing the right thing.”
want and there’ll be little to no Pettus is an aspiring politician
consequence.” who wants to “recreate the rules.”
Pettus said Although Pettus said he thinks
the group went in the country is progressing with the
of Hill’s
family and to show
justice system indicting, convicting
and sentencing police officers who
the public that
youth care about
shoot unarmed people, he added
that he does not think the country
issues and
the justice system.
and justice system are progressing
at the speed it should.
“Our voice
should be heard
“The fact that officers are
shooting unarmed people and
as much as getting small sentences is crazy. It
shouldn’t be an issue.”
other people,”
said Pettus. “Us By going to the sentencing,
showing up added Pettus said, the group made a small
diversity to the difference.
people who also “Each student will go and talk
showed up to about Hill and widen the knowledge
protest; mostly about what happened and open
adults were there. people’s mind about it,” said Pettus.
It’s not just an Now that the sentencing has
adult issue; soon passed, BSU plans to continue
its research on police brutality by
Pettus said the issue is the keeping up with current incidents in
justice system not being held the country. The group also wants
accountable for certain actions, such to educate all students who attend
as unnecessary force and police Decatur High School about the
brutality. topic. Pettus said that spreading
“We think we need to be there the word could “widen the web of
for these issues because we are people who care about the issue.”
going to play a part in what happens The students returned to school
to our justice system,” said Pettus. after joining local activists at the
“We need to take a step up and DeKalb County Courthouse.
make sure that our justice system is
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • Page 7

WEEK in PICTURES... As seen on DCTV

Scenes from DeKalb County government’s Veterans Day Program which featured keynote speaker Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Johnson.

The Lou Walker Senior Center Drill Team participated in the center’s annual Veteran’s Day Program
where seniors reflected on their years of service.

Chief Judge Berryl Anderson, DeKalb County Magistrate Court, held The People's Law School Class of DCTV Reporter Kristal Thomas will present a great story about Chris 180 for an upcoming episode of Inside
2019 graduation. DeKalb.

DCTV was there as MARTA recently celebrated 40 years of service. In 1979, MARTA’s first train ran from Avondale Station to Georgia State Station

23
DCTV CHANNEL 23
Get your front row seat to all
@DCTVCHANNEL23 things DeKalb County through your
DEKALB COUNTY GOV EMMY Award-winning station.
U USTREAM.TV/CHANNEL/DCTV-CHANNEL-23
WWW.DCTVCHANNEL23.TV
EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • Page 8

STONE MOUNTAIN

Incident report complete after student burned in school, lawsuit looming

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County School
District (DCSD) completed
an incident report Nov. 5
that includes details of how
a student suffered third-
degree burns during an
Aug. 6 chemical explosion
in class and disciplinary
recommendations for the
teacher who is blamed for
the explosion.
Malachi McFadden,
a 15-year-old Redan High
School student, received
third-degree burns in
Bridgette Blowe’s
chemistry class when she
allegedly lit a dollar bill
and poured ethanol onto the
flame, which resulted in a
fire that burned McFadden.
The incident took place on
the second day of the new
school year.
Stewart Trial Attorneys
held a press conference
Nov. 6 to discuss the
incident report and disclose
that DCSD Superintendent
R. Stephen Green
recommended that Blowe be
terminated and that Redan
High School Principal
Janice Boger recommended
that Blowe be suspended
and then retrained. Blowe
is currently working at
the school as a chemistry
teacher.
The incident report
obtained by The Champion
Newspaper determined that
the experiment found on a
science magic trick website
was done, “without proper
‘We’ll see you all in court’
L. Chris Stewart speaks at a Nov. 6 press conference regarding a student who was burned in class. Photo by Taylor Robins
safety precaution and in a
reckless manner.”
“We hoped that the
investigation was going
to be fair, we hoped that it
was going to be thorough
and it was,” Attorney L.
Chris Stewart said. “This
is one of the rare situations
where a school district has
investigated itself and found
itself at fault. What we
didn’t see in the results was
findings of fault for people
above her.”
According to Stewart,
the experiment was
uploaded to the teacher’s
online lesson plan and
Blowe asked the head
of her department for
ethanol. Ethanol is a
flammable liquid. Blowe
unsuccessfully attempted
the same experiment the day
prior with rubbing alcohol.
The explosion that involved
the ethanol resulted in
third-degree burns on
McFadden’s face, neck,
arms and hands.
According to Stewart,
the response the attorney’s
office and McFadden’s
family has received from
DCSD is, “We’re sorry it
happened. There’s nothing
we can do.”
McFadden will need
cosmetic reconstructive
surgery, according to
Stewart.
“[DCSD] tried to say
they some insurance that
can help,” said Stewart.
“That’s not true. That
insurance for this situation
is secondary to his parents’
coverage. So after his
parents have to spend all
their money and go broke,
then maybe [DCSD’s]
insurance will kick in.”
“He can’t just walk
around like that for the rest
of his life,” said Stewart.
“That’s not fair.”
According to Stewart,
McFadden is “happy, bright
and went to homecoming.”
The Champion
Newspaper reported in
September that McFadden is
being homeschooled─until
possibly next semester─and
began physical therapy in
September. According to
Stewart, McFadden will
start psychological therapy
soon to get him ready to
interact with peers.
“The amazing thing
about [McFadden] is he
hasn’t gotten bitter,” said
Stewart. “He keeps asking
when he can go back to
school… that’s the kind of
kid they’re dealing with.”
Stewart Trial Attorneys
plans to file a lawsuit for
an undisclosed amount
of money, according to
Stewart.
“[DCSD doesn’t] want
to sit down and talk,” said
Stewart. “We have asked to
sit down and talk a bunch
of times. We let them come
meet [McFadden] and see
his burns.”
No formal apology has
been made to McFadden
by DCSD, according to
Stewart.
“[DCSD], we’ll see you
all in court,” said Stewart.

Officials investigate middle school self-mutilation incident

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County School District (DCSD)
officials have confirmed a Nov. 5 self-
mutilation incident that involves Freedom
Middle School students.
DCSD officials said 11 students who
attend Freedom Middle School─located in
Stone Mountain─participated in self-harm.
Officials said that health and safety of students
are important to the district and the district has
provided counselors and social workers to the
school for additional support.
DCSD officials said they do not know
when the incident happened during the day. The
students’ injuries are not life-threatening.
An investigation is ongoing, according to
DCSD.
LOCAL
Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary celebrates with his supporters after being reelected. Photos by Carla Parker
Stonecrest voters reelect Lary as mayor
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Jason Lary will serve as Stone-
crest mayor for another four years
after receiving a majority of votes
Nov. 5
Lary won the mayoral race
with 55.48 percent (3,049) of votes.
Challengers Charles Hill Jr., and
Diane Adoma received 23.54 percent
(1,294) and 20.58 percent (1,131), re-
spectively. During his victory speech,
Lary said Stonecrest’s future is bright.
DeKalb municipal and special election results
BY CARLA PARKER
AND TAYLOR ROBINS
DeKalb County voters say “no” to
the board of ethics referendum.
Voters rejected the ethics board ref-
erendum with 61.33 percent of votes.
The referendum would have made
revisions to the makeup of DeKalb
County’s ethics board and how future
complaints would be filed. Changes
were made following a Georgia Su-
preme Court ruling that determined
some of the board’s current members
were appointed unconstitutionally.
The amendments would have
required county employees to file
complaints with human resource de-
partments before filing with the ethics
board, allowed the county CEO to have
a representative on the ethics commit-
tee and changed the ethics officer posi-
tion to an ethics administrator.
DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond
said in a statement that the focus now
shifts back to the General Assembly.
“DeKalb’s State House and Sen-
ate delegations must craft legislation
that can earn the support of a major-
ity of each delegation, pass the Gen-
eral Assembly, receive the governor’s
signature and then be resubmitted to
“We have so much potential, we
have so many great things that can
and will happen if we just work col-
lectively,” Lary said.
Lary also extended an “olive
branch” to Adoma and Hill to work
together for the betterment of the city.
“We’ve said this before in the
initial development of the city—those
that ran for office that didn’t win,
that’s OK. I want to give both of them
a personal invitation to actually come
and work with the city,” Lary said.
“There is some talent there. I want
to extend an olive branch to both of
the voters,” Thurmond said. “DeKalb
needs a strong ethics board. The current
board was rendered dormant when the
Supreme Court upheld the decision that
the board’s appointment process was
unconstitutional.
“Until the legislature cures the
flaws in the current legislation, we are
in the untenable position of operating
without an ethics board,” Thurmond
added. “This current state of affairs is
unacceptable.”
In Avondale Estates, Jonathan
Elmore will serve as mayor for another
four years after defeating challenger
Clai Brown.
Elmore won the mayoral race with
57.31 percent of votes, while Brown
received 42.50 percent. In the city com-
missioner race, voters had two slots to
fill and elected Dee Merriam (32.38
percent) and incumbent Brian Fisher
(27.01 percent).
In Chamblee, three city council
members ran for reelection. Chamblee
City Council At Large member Darron
Kusman and District 2 Leslie Robson
received enough votes for another term,
while Thomas Hogan lost his District
3 seat.
Kusman beat Stephen Watson
receiving 1,044 votes that represented
69.93 percent of total votes. Watson
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • Page 9
them so that we can use that talent,
whichever ones or one, that want
to extend that talent in the city of
Stonecrest and just continue to make
the place better to live because that’s
what all of us want anyway.”
Lary said he will also work with
residents who didn’t vote for him.
“The clear thing that I and our
team really want from this is don’t be
mad anymore,” he said. “We are the
best city on the planet. Sometimes it’s
just not your turn and that’s ok, it’s
going to be all right. But it’s my turn
now, and everything is going to be
received 436 votes that represent 29.20
percent of total votes. Robson received
945 votes that represent 63 percent of
total votes against Shaun Lewis, who
received 554 votes that represents 37
percent of total votes.
Hogan—who has served as a mem-
ber of Chamblee’s city council since
2008—lost to Karen Lupton, who
received 58 percent of votes compared
to Hogan’s 42 percent. Hogan received
648 votes and Lupton received 903
votes.
Clarkston residents voted for three
out of the six candidates who ran for
city council seats and selected incum-
bent Awet Eyasu with 23.92 percent
of votes, Debra Johnson with 18.50
percent of votes and Laura Hopkins
with 15.10 percent of votes. Incumbent
Andrea Cervone lost her council seat
after receiving 14.46 percent of votes.
In Decatur, voters reelected Tony
Powers to the commissioner at large
seat with 74.14 percent of votes, de-
feating Christopher Gagnon (25.75
percent); George Dusenbury (54.85
percent) defeated Erin Braden (45.06
percent) in the District 1 Post B com-
missioner race; and Lesa Mayer won
the District 2 Post B seat with 72.88
percent of votes, defeating Phillip Wie-
dower (27.02 percent).
just fine.”
In the special election for the Dis-
trict 5 council seat, Tammy Grimes
and Dave Marcus are heading to a
runoff election after neither candidate
received more than 50 percent of
votes in the six-person race. Grimes
received a plurality of votes with
45.38 percent (698), while Marcus
(16.64 percent/256) edged out Bar-
bara Hall (16.25 percent/250) for
second by six votes.
The runoff election will be held
Dec. 3.
Lithonia City Councilwoman
Shameka Reynolds will be the new
mayor of the city after receiving 60.95
percent of votes, defeating challenger
Cindy Thomas (39.05 percent). In the
city council race, voters had two slots
to fill and elected Darold Honore Jr.
(36.82 percent) and Vanneriah Wynn
(33.75 percent).
In Pine Lake, both Tracey Brant-
ley and Brandy Beavers ran for the
same open city council seat. Brantley
received 130 votes and Beavers re-
ceived 128 votes.
Stone Mountain Mayor Pro Tem
Chakira Johnson was reelected to
her Post 3 council seat after receiv-
ing 55.94 percent of votes, beating
challenger Andrea Redmond (44.06
percent). Post 1 and 2 council seats are
heading to a runoff on Dec. 3. Incum-
bent Richard Mailman (29.54 percent)
will be challenged by Gina Stroud
Cox (34.73 percent) for the Post 1 seat
and incumbent Bernie Waller (30.18
percent) and Clint Monroe (43.86 per-
cent) will face off for the Post 2 seat.
Tucker voters reelected Bill Rosen-
feld in the city council District 1 Post
2 race with 76.44 percent of votes,
defeating challenger Christine Blood-
worth (22.68 percent).
 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • Page 10

DECATUR
Volunteers sought to be
court appointed special
advocates
DeKalb County CASA
is currently recruiting
CASA, Education Advocate
and Ambassador volunteers.
A CASA volunteer is
a trained community
member appointed by a
juvenile court judge to
advocate on behalf of the
best interests of an abused
and/or neglected child in
foster care. The volunteer
information session will
provide an overview of
the DeKalb County CASA
program for those interested
in volunteering.
The event will take
place at Gregory A
Adams Juvenile Justice
Center─4309 Memorial
Drive in Decatur─Nov. 19
from 6:15-7:15 p.m.
AROUND DeKalb
CLARKSTON
Library to host estate
planning event
Clarkston Library will
host a “Creating a Legacy
Through Estate Planning”
event Nov. 21 from noon
to 2 p.m. Attendees will
be taught how to create a
legacy for future generations
that will provide for their
family and protect personal
property. The library is
located at 951 North Indian
Creek Drive. To register for
the event, call (404) 508-
7175.
STONECREST
Library to host movie
screening
The movie Shaft,
starring Samuel L. Jackson
and Jessie T. Usher, will
be screened Nov. 22 at
Stonecrest Library from
1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The
library is located at 3123
Klondike Road. For more
information, call (770) 482-
3828.
STONE
MOUNTAIN
City to host table event
Stone Mountain
will host its first “Stone
Mountain @ the Table
Event” Nov. 16 from 2 to 5
p.m. The event is intended
to bring together all corners
of the community—joining
residents, businesses,
restaurants and stakeholders
in a show of unity, diversity
and advancement. The
event seeks to break down
the walls that divide and
to construct a bridge that
connects. The event will
be held at 922 Main Street.
For more information, call
Micah Richards at (770)
498-8984 ext. 130.
Parents can participate in
emotion conference
DeKalb County School
District’s (DCSD) Parent
and Family Engagement
department is hosting the
Parent Empowerment
Conference Nov. 16 at 10
a.m.
Residents can join
DCSD for workshops on
stress management, self-care
and social and emotional
strategies for children.
This event will take
place at the Robert R.
Freeman Administrative and
Instructional Complex, 1701
Mountain Industrial Blvd.
in Stone Mountain from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m.
TUCKER
Community singers to host
concert
The Tucker Community
Singers will host its
third concert with a free
community Christmas
concert Nov. 17 from 4 to
5 p.m. at First Christian
Church of Atlanta. The
church is located at 4532
Lavista Road.

The City of Lithonia, located in DeKalb County,

Georgia, is soliciting the interest of qualified professional

Did you know?

law firms to provide a full range of municipal legal
services serving as the City’s legal counsel on a part-time
contractual basis. Responding firms must be licensed
in the State of Georgia with verifiable experience in
municipal governmental law. One in 10 marijuana users will become addicted.
Deadline for Submittal of Qualifications December 4, For people who begin using younger than 18, that
2019 by 4 PM number rises to one in six.
Please visit the City’s website at https://cityoflithonia. For more information, call (770) 285-6037, E-mail: beyondthebell@comcast.net
city for additional information. or visit beyondthebellkids.org

THIS COULD BE YOUR AD. CALL 404.373.7779 EXT 110

FOR MORE INFORMATION.
BUSINESS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • Page 11

Women share business stories, tips at monthly roundtable

BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER

When Quinay Baker

was working in the fabric
industry in New York City
she noticed a busload of
women who had come
fabric shopping from
Atlanta. “I remember
thinking, ‘Why would an
entire bus full of people
come all the way from
Atlanta to buy fabric?’ Then
it hit me there must not be a
store in Atlanta that sells the
fabrics that are available in
New York’s famed garment
district.”
Baker, CEO and founder Kim Braud, left, hosted the November meeting in the offices of her Roundtable sessions are limited to 20 participants to keep the gatherings intimate and informal.
of Q & A Fabric Studio Fleurty Wick Candle Co. business, where Quinay Baker, right, was the
guest speaker.
in Atlanta, told that story
Nov. 7 at Collab Atlanta’s fashion. She said her dream who own small businesses, Thanksgiving. The day discussion on using social
Women’s Entrepreneur is to be one of the leading share leads and grow following Black Friday is media to promote business.
Roundtable at Fleurty Wick women in Atlanta’s fashion your business. Our guest Small Business Saturday Group members told others
Candle Co. in Avondale industry and for Atlanta to speakers will be people and and the following Monday of apps and strategies that
Estates. Her realization that be recognized as a fashion organizations that can help is Cyber Monday,” Braud have worked well for them.
there were opportunities to capital. you to scale up and assist reminded the group. “People
grow and diversify Atlanta’s Baker, who studied at in areas that you may need are ready to spend, and you
fashion industry prompted the Fashion Institute of help,” states roundtable should be ready to respond.”
Baker to come South. “I Technology and worked host Kim Braud, owner of Braud offered Masonry work
could see that Atlanta needs many years in the fashion Fleurty Wick Candle Co., suggestions on pulling in Stone
customers during the post- Brick
a garment district similar to industry, explained that in her online description Block
the ones in New York and her interest in fashion was of Women’s Entrepreneur Thanksgiving weekend by Concrete repairs
LA. I wanted to help make inspired by a seamstress Roundtable offering short-term sales,
that happen. I left New York aunt. “She could literally Braud said the sessions special giveaways and hints Martinez
with a vision and $83.” look at a dress in a are limited to 20 women at new items that will be Masonry
With help from department store window to keep them intimate and available for the holiday 404.408.4170
MartinezMasonry281@yahoo.com
relatives, Baker brought her and go home and make that casual. “From business season.
knowledge of the fashion dress. I grew up fascinated concept to million-dollar There also was a
industry to Atlanta in what by fashion fabrics and organizations, we have
she said is “a special way”  everything related to it.” representation every step of
that would “bring together She added that Q & A the way. We highlight local NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
the fashion community Fabric Studio is “just the women owned businesses Notice is hereby given that the Mayor and Council of
and assist designers with beginning” of what she and give them a platform the City of Pine Lake will hold a Public Hearing on
resources that they may not hopes to bring to Atlanta’s to share their journey while the 2020 Proposed Budgets on November 26, 2019
have had access to in the fashion scene.  celebrating their success,” beginning at 7:00 PM. Final adoption of the budget
past.”  The monthly she said. is scheduled for the December 9, 2019 City Council
meeting to be held in the City Council Chambers, 459
At Q & A Fabric Studio, roundtables, which include The Nov. 7 session Pine Drive, Pine Lake GA 30072 beginning at 7:00
DeKalb County resident speakers such as Baker as included a discussion on PM. The proposed budget will be available for public
Baker hosts seminars and well as informal discussions ways small businesses can review on the website and at City Hall beginning the
offers classes in such skills of business issues, are open best take advantage of the week November 18, 2019 during normal business
as sewing, pattern making to women who are small upcoming holiday season. hours.
and starting a fashion business owners or are “You know Black Friday,
starting a business. “This is the day after Thanksgiving NOTICE OF MEETING OF DEKALB COUNTY
collection for people HOSPITAL AUTHORITY
throughout the Atlanta area a space to provide resources, is just part of a cluster of
who have an interest in network with other women spending days right after To the public: Please take notice that the DeKalb
County Hospital Authority’s October 2019 meeting
has been rescheduled for the date, time, and
CITY OF BROOKHAVEN FY 2020 BUDGET REVIEW, location listed below. This meeting is open to the
PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND ADOPTION public.
• A rescheduled meeting of the DeKalb County
The proposed FY 2020 City of Brookhaven Budget will be presented to Mayor and Hospital Authority will take place on November 19,
Council by the City Manager on October 22, 2019 at the regularly scheduled Council 2019 at 12:00 pm. This meeting will be held in the
Meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. The City of Brookhaven will hold a public hearing on Thrasher Conference Room in the administration
the proposed FY 2020 Budget at the regularly scheduled Council Meeting on Tuesday, suite at Emory Decatur Hospital, 2701 North
November 12, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Another public hearing will be held during the City Decatur Road, Decatur, Georgia 30033.
Council meeting on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Following the public
hearing on November 26, 2019, the City Council will vote to adopt the FY 2020 Budget. Please note that the Thrasher Conference Room
The FY 2020 Budget will be available for public inspection at City Hall, 4362 Peachtree will be open to the public attendees for purposes of
Road, and on the website www.brookhavenga.gov October 22, 2020. this meeting.
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Champion won its first DeKalb County Trail to the Title Middle School Football Championship. Photos by Carla Parker
Champion’s John Cineas is tackled after an interception.
Champion wins first middle school football title
BY CARLA PARKER
Carla@dekalbchamp.com
The Champion Chargers capped off
an undefeated season with their first
DeKalb County Trail to the Title Middle
School Football Championship Nov. 2
at Adams Stadium.
Champion (9-0) defeated Cedar
Grove (8-1) 14-6 to win its first football
title in program history. Coach Shun
Golden said the football championship
was a long time coming for the school.
“[The school] has always been
known for our girls’ basketball
[program and its success], but when
I took over this [football] program
four years ago I wanted to change the
culture,” Golden said. “I wanted it to be
something outside of girls’ basketball
and today we did that. We got that chip
off our shoulder.”
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • Page 12
Cedar Grove’s Demarcus Smith stiff arms a Champion Champion’s Milton Smith brushes off a Cedar Grove defender as
defender. he rushes for extra yardage.
Champion got on the scoreboard Weekend football scores
first with a five-yard touchdown run
by Milton Smith in the first quarter. A Nov. 8
two-point conversion run by Channing
Henderson gave Champion an 8-0 lead. Chamblee (1-8) 14, Miller Grove (0-10) 13
Cedar Grove cut Champion’s lead to Lithonia (4-6) 37, Arabia Mountain (2-8) 7
8-6 in the second quarter on a five-yard Southwest DeKalb (9-1) 28, Columbia (4-6) 18
run by Boden Walker. Smith scored his St. Pius X (5-5) 42, Stephens County (1-9) 21
second rushing touchdown of the game Stephenson (9-1) 13, Tucker (6-4) 7
later in the quarter to give Champion a Brookwood (5-5) 54, Lakeside (0-10) 0
Carver (7-3) 36, Decatru (7-3) 8
14-6 lead.
Douglass (9-1) 53, Clarkston (0-10) 0
The second half of the game was a
Johns Creek (9-1) 49, Dunwoody (3-7) 14
defensive battle between the two teams Morrow (6-4) 39, M.L. King (7-3) 13
as neither team could get anything Pataula Charter (3-7) 30, Cross Keys (0-10) 12
going offensively. Champion’s John Therrell (3-7) 48, McNair (0-10) 0
Cineas sealed the victory for his
team with an interception with 1:24 Nov. 9
remaining.
Smith, who had seven carries for 51 Cedar Grove (8-2) 31, Stone Mountain (3-7) 0
yards and two touchdowns, was named Redan (4-6) 54, Towers (2-8) 20
the game’s most valuable player. McDonough (4-6) 21, Druid Hills (2-8) 19
Bye: Marist (9-1)