the DeKalb FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • VOL.

23, NO 15 • 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

Lumpkin, others honor

fallen officers in DeKalb
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN DeKalb County, Decatur,
horace@dekalbchamp.com Clarkston, Doraville, Pine Lake,
Stone Mountain and MARTA were
honored. Family members of some
DeKalb County’s newest head officers were in attendance.
of public safety participated in Joseph Lumpkin, who was
his first Fallen Officer’s Memorial hired as DeKalb County’s deputy
program in DeKalb. chief operating officer of public
The program is an annual safety in January, gave his remarks
event that honors DeKalb County during the event.
officers who died in the line of “These men and women made
duty. the ultimate sacrifice for DeKalb
More than 40 officers from County, the state of Georgia and

SEE OFFICERS ON PAGE 11

DeKalb County Police Chief James Conroy speaks at the annual Fallen Officer’s Memorial event.

DeKalb County officials honored fallen officers of DeKalb County during the annual Fallen Officers Memorial service held at the Decatur square.

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

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 2

Governor vetoes bill that created

term limits for Stonecrest mayor
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Stonecrest Mayor Jason
Lary said he is happy the
governor vetoed a bill that
would have placed term limits
for the mayor seat but permit
unlimited number of terms for
councilmembers to remain in
office.
Gov. Nathan Deal
announced May 8 that he
File Photo vetoed House Bill 600. Along

Commissioners
with the term-limit for the
mayor position, the bill also
removed the mayor’s power Deal Lary
to vote with the city council,

seek gun law fix

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County has
an official stance on gun
legislation after county
commissioners passed a
resolution to advocate for
“common sense” gun laws.
During a board of
commissioners meeting May
8, commissioners passed a
resolution 6-1 to endorse
common sense gun safety
legislation at the federal and
state level.
The resolution states it will
also encourage DeKalb County
retailers to limit the sale of
certain guns and accessories to
individuals younger than 21.
“It becomes a little
tiresome to say, ‘we can’t
do anything because it’s
in the state’s jurisdiction,’”
said Commissioner Kathie
Gannon, one of the resolution’s
authors. “We felt we could
follow suit with some other
counties and ask local
businesses to voluntarily do
things. It’s about common-
sense gun legislation.”
At the crux of the issue,
Gannon said, is limiting access
to bump stocks and “assault
rifles” such as AR-15s.
Gannon said certain types
of guns and accessories don’t
have an everyday use.
“No one is trying to take
away guns or hunting and
almost everyone is in support
of thorough background
checks. We’re asking retailers
to not sell to anyone under
21,” Gannon said. “You don’t
need an assault rifle to hunt
with. Let’s put the sport back in
hunting.”
State law takes precedence
over local government laws,
Gannon said. In Georgia, the
legal age to buy a firearm is
18. However, private business
owners who are Federal
Firearms License holders
can use their discretion in
determining who they will
provide service to.
Commissioner Nancy
Jester, the lone dissenting vote,
said she could not support the
measure because parts of the
resolution did not align with
her beliefs.
“While I can’t support it, I
understand why you’re putting
it forward...I want to end gun
violence in our communities
and this may be one facet
that I’m not completely in
agreement with,” Jester said.
“While I don’t find anything
objectionable [with the
resolution], there’s some other
things I would probably add.”
The resolution also
expressed condolences to the
victims and families of the
Marjory Stoneman Douglas
High School shooting.
On Feb. 14, shooter
Nikolas Cruz entered Marjory
Stoneman Douglas High
School in Parkland, Fla, and
shot and killed 17 people,
many of whom were students.
A copy of the official
minutes will be sent to
the mayor of Parkland
and to the members of the
DeKalb delegation to the
Georgia Senate, House of
Representatives and the
Georgia Congressional
Delegation.
except in the case of a tie.
“These amendments to
a city charter that has been
in effect for less than two
years have not, apparently,
received the proper amount
of discussion during the
legislative session as legislators
from the delegation could not
reach a consensus,” Deal said.
“For this reason, I veto HB
600.”
Lary said HB 600 was a
mayor-killer bill.
“If you read how it was, it
directed everything against the
mayor,” Lary said. “Term limits
for the mayor, and it was very
specific as to how it supported
the councilpersons, giving
them unlimited terms. Then
taking the vote away from the
mayor.
“I would’ve been the only
L. ARMSTRONG
mayor that I know about in representative that touches
the state of Georgia without Stonecrest,” Lary said.
a vote or a veto,” Lary added. Rep. “Coach” Williams’
“It crippled the office of the (District 87) signature was not
mayor.” on the bill. Williams represents
The bill was first introduced a small section of Stonecrest
in March 2017, before the near the Covington Highway
city held elections for the and Panola Road intersection.
mayor and city council seats. “That was the first defect of
The bill was co-authored the bill,” Lary said. “The second
by representatives Doreen defect in the bill was you have
Carter (District 92), Dar’shun to give the governing authority
Kendrick (District 93), Vernon notification. We were not a
Jones (District 91), Karen governing authority when they
Bennett (District 94) and Pam constructed this bill.
Stephenson (District 90). “It was a mayor-killer bill
Lary said Deal made the and that wasn’t right,” Lary
proper choice in vetoing the added. “Things usually don’t
bill because it had two major stand the test of times when
defects. they have defects and are not
“One, in the house right. I’m happy.”
rule, [the bill] has to have
mandatory signatures of every
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LOCAL
AROUNDDEKALB
ATLANTA
Women’s community networking event
The Clarkston Library will host a
women’s community networking event
May 21 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Women of
all cultures will come together to celebrate
what it means to be a woman. The event
is presented by New American Pathways
and childcare services will be available.
Those who plan to use the childcare
services should contact Shondra Tobler
at stobler@newamericanpathways.org or
call (404) 299-6099, ext. 267. The library is
located at 951 N. Indian Creek Drive.
BROOKHAVEN
Blood drive scheduled
Brookhaven will host a blood drive May
25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m at Brookhaven
City Hall, 4362 Peachtree Road. To schedule
an appointment to donate, call 1-800-RED-
CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org and enter
the sponsor code brookhaven. Donors will
receive a $5 Amazon gift card.
City pools to open
Brookhaven city pools will open May 26.
General admission will be $3 for children
ages 3 to 17, $5 for adults age 18-49, $1 for
seniors ages 50 and up and $2 per person
for groups of 20 or more. Season passes
will cost $80 for children, $120 for adults
and $60 for seniors. A $250 season pass
option is offered for families of up to four DeKalb offers residents free disposal at
with an $80 add-on price per person for
families of more than four.
Residents can purchase season passes at
Lynwood Recreation Center or Briarwood
Recreation Center Monday-Friday, 8:30
a.m.-5 p.m. Payment for season passes
can be made via cash, check or credit card Clevemont Road in Ellenwood.
and must be paid at either Lynwood or
Briarwood Recreation centers during the
hours the pool is open.
Payment for general daily admission can furniture and small and large appliances,
be made by cash or credit card at the pool.. and special collection items such as tires
DUNWOODY
Dunwoody celebrating Kids to Parks
Day
Kids to Parks Day is a national day of
outdoor play designed to connect kids
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 3
and families with their local, state, and
national parks. Dunwoody is celebrating
this day May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
Brook Run Park. There will be face painting
and balloon artists from 10 a.m. to noon.,
popcorn and snow cone cart from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m., music from noon to 2 p.m.
and jump rope, hula hoop, giant tic-tac-
toe, giant Jenga and sidewalk chalk yard
games.
STONE MOUNTAIN
Tunes by the Track continue
The Kris Youmans Band will perform May
25 as part of Stone Mountain’s Tunes by the
Track series. The free concert will be held
at 922 Main Street near the gazebo from 7 WorkSource DeKalb Youth Services at
to 9 p.m. For more information, visit www. wsdyouth@dekalbcountyga.gov or (404)-
stonemountaincity.org.
TUCKER
Cleanup day scheduled for in Elmdale
Community
The Elmdale Community cleanup day
will be held May 19 at New Beginning
Church. The cleanup will begin at 10 a.m.
and end at noon and will be followed by
a barbeque in Peters Park. The church is
located at 1936 Clark Drive.
COUNTY WIDE
landfill
The DeKalb County Sanitation Division
will host the 2nd Annual “Landfill Amnesty
Day” event on May 19 from 8 a.m. to 4
p.m., at the Seminole Road Landfill at 4203
Residents will have an opportunity
to dispose of bagged garbage, yard
trimmings, tree parts, bulky items, such as
and construction and demolition materials.
No hazardous materials will be accepted.
The event is free and open only to DeKalb
County residents. Proof of residency will be
requested.
For more information, contact Pauline
A. Andrea, DeKalb County Sanitation
Division public relations manager, at (404)-
971-2892 or paandrea@dekalbcountyga.
gov.
WorkSource DeKalb offers 150 youth
summer internships
WorkSource DeKalb plans to hire 150
out-of-school youth for its annual summer
internship program. The eight-week
program runs June 4 through July 27.
Interns will be paid $9 per hour.
Interested candidates must be DeKalb
County residents between the ages of 16-
24, not attending school and meet certain
other conditions.
To apply, visit www.worksourcedekalb.
org. Applications are accepted on a first-
come, first-served basis. The deadline to
register is May 21.
For additional information about
applying for an internship, contact
687-3400.
Fresh on DeK Mobile Farmers Market
kicks off May 19
University of Georgia’s Cooperative
Extension will launch the fourth season
of Fresh on DeK, DeKalb County’s Mobile
Farmers Market on May 19 from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m., at the DeKalb County Extension
Office on 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur.
Event attendees will be able to purchase
fresh produce at a reduced cost and
participate in educational demonstrations
from the Extension. There also will be
interactive games for children along with
food and prizes.
Fresh on DeK’s purpose is to improve
the health of the community, the viability
of local produce and to preserve the
environment for future generations by
providing access to fresh produce and
nutritional education programming
throughout DeKalb County.
For more information about Fresh
on DeK or to learn more about other
programs and services contact the DeKalb
County Cooperative Extension office at
(404) 298-4080 or visit www.extension.uga.
edu/county-offices/dekalb.html.
LOCAL
Brookhaven announces site of
new public safety building
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
A new public safety
building is coming to
Brookhaven.
At the May 8 city council
meeting, Brookhaven Mayor
John Ernst announced that
the $12 million facility will be
built adjacent to the trailhead
of Peachtree Creek Greenway
and will serve as the home
to the Brookhaven Police
Department, the municipal
court and the emergency
operations center. The city
council voted unanimously to
award an $800,000 contract
for the construction to Rosser
International.
“We’re going to build it
on land we just acquired on
Briarwood Road. This is an
extremely great use of the
land,” Ernst said. “We thought
we were just getting land for
the greenway but now we are
able to use it for our public
safety building. This is a
great use of city resources …
otherwise we would have to
spend another $3 million [for
property] on Buford Highway.
Basically we have two for one.”
DeKalb voters approved
a $47 million county-wide
special local option sales tax
(SPLOST) in November, with
which the city said it would
spend $15 million on public
safety. In February, the council
WE ARE SOCIAL
@DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE
approved spending $200,000
to find an architectural firm
to help design a new police
department and municipal
court headquarters. Money for
finding a site for the building
was included.
The city first announced it
was in search of land for a new
public safety building in April.
Ernst said in an April 19 public
safety town hall that the city
was considering land along
Bramblewood Drive as well as
other sites.
City officials said the new
site would provide public
safety personnel with “state-of-
the-art amenities” and allow
the police department to move
from its current rented space at
2665 Buford Highway.
“We are busting at the
seams, with very little room
for police officers, cars or
equipment,” said Police Chief
Gary Yandura in a press
release. “The building we
are in now doesn’t even have
adequate backup electricity
when the power goes out. The
new facility will address all of
these issues and give us a little
room to grow over the next 20-
30 years.”
City officials said they
expect construction to be
completed by the summer of
2020.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 4
Madolyn Spann, left, instructs residents on how to offer input on the city’s comprehensive plan.
Stonecrest residents provide input
on city’s future
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Stonecrest has begun the process of
updating its comprehensive plan and that
process includes receiving input from residents.
Stonecrest held its first of four open house
meetings for residents May 10 at city hall. The
open house gives residents the opportunity to
share their vision for the city. The city adopted
DeKalb County’s comprehensive plan and is
updating it to address the city’s future activities
related to transportation, recreation, land use
and commercial development through 2038.
“Across the board, we want them to see
exactly what is happening with economic
development, housing, transportation, quality
of life, everything, so that they have an
opportunity to give the most important thing
for us, which is their input,” Mayor Jason Lary
said. “At the end of the day, how do you want
your city to look and what type of drivers Stonecrest residents had the opportunity to share their vision
do you want that to have? Does that include for the city.
MARTA, does that include more shopping
areas, increased value on housing? So, this is
a way to be able to make that happen, to hear on the city’s website under the Comprehensive
directly from them.” Plan 2038 tab.
The city partnered with The Collaborative “Once we’ve done all of that data collection,
Firm to put the plan together. Madolyn
Spann, director of planning and economic
development, said an important part of
then
also
that
we’ll go into drafting,” Spann said. “We’re
working
represents
with a steering committee
numerous persons in the
developing the comprehensive plan is public community. They assist in evaluating the
involvement. materials that we’re going to be gathering, and
“We’re about to draft a plan that’s going to be they’ll be able to advise and be able to inform
the public. Kind of like a link between what
projected on how the city is going to grow, what
areas are going to be developed in what manner,
and we certainly can’t do that without public
we’re doing
Spann
comprehensive
and
said
the
she
plan
community.
expects
by the
a
”
draft
end of
of the
the summer.
involvement,” Spann said. “Public involvement
is a very heavy part in that. That draft will be submitted to the department
“This is an opportunity for them to kind
of shape their own vision for the city,” she
added. “This plan is going to be very important
of community
Commission.
affairs and the Atlanta
“The document has to be reviewed and
Regional
because it’s the stepping stone to establishing approved by them,” she said. “Once we go
through that and have a document that
their vision that they have for the city.”
Additional open houses will be held in each everyone is happy with, the city council will
district of the city. Along with giving input at adopt that plan. ”
the open house, residents can also give input
OPINION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 5

Kindness to the elderly lifts spirits

a helping hand. it’s my mother’s diminutive
Recently I was seriously People who are usually size, unsteady gait or advanced
disheartened by a report rushed and preoccupied age that draws attention and a
of a women who verbally with their personal agendas willingness to exercise a little
disparaged two female become patient and attentive kindness. Maybe the sight of
Gale Horton Gay
members of the military at when they see her slowly a little old lady trying to get
fastgale@hotmail.com
a restaurant. I watched the navigating her way into or out around reminds people of their
footage on TV as the woman of an establishment or rising own mothers, grandmothers,
behaved aggressively toward painfully from a seat. Folks will aunts and other aging relatives.
diminishing, I had several
the soldiers and even, at one often stop what they are doing I take these as hopeful signs
uplifting personal experiences
point, physically assaulted to offer to assist, and even that while craziness is in full
that showed me otherwise.
one of the women who was teens will step aside and speak swing 24/7, many people still
Spending a day with my
pregnant. This type of behavior respectfully and kindly to my respect their elders, appreciate
92-year-old mother taking
is so disturbing that I find mother. the efforts of taking care of our
her, and at times her walker,
myself disillusioned about Most recently as Mom and I most senior citizens and want
to appointments and to lunch,
where we are and where we’re were leaving a Stone Mountain to be kind and courteous when
we encounter person after
headed. And unfortunately it restaurant two groups of men they can.
person who demonstrate small
seems to be happening over were entering. They stopped, It lifts my spirits and
kindnesses and courtesies.
and over again. held two sets of double doors reinforces that there is still
Sometimes it’s just a smile or a
As I was considering that and allowed us through as plenty of kindness and empathy
nod, other times it’s the offer of
the “human” in humanity is though we were royalty. Maybe in the world.
OPINION
“It’s not over yet. We will continue
to fight on. We want to keep the city
complete, and do great things for the
city and all its citizens,” said Anthony
Ford, mayor of Stockbridge, Georgia.
The battle cries you may be soon
hearing will be coming from hotly
contested borders much closer than
the demilitarized zone of the Korean
peninsula or the Mexican/American
border. Chances are the lawyers are
already jostling to joust with their
legal briefs in city halls and county
courthouses across Georgia.
Gov. Nathan Deal, a typically
conservative, consensus-building
statesman, signed a doozy of a
bill on the last day possible before
automatically passing into law without
his signature, or being stroked with his
veto pen.
There may be no blood immediately
spilled, but I can assure you that this
one will divide communities, turn
neighbors into screaming enemies
and cause you to want to hide your
children from anything resembling a
community town hall.  has suggested that DeKalb County
Deal signed a bill allowing for a
local referendum in Henry County
by the potential citizens of the
community of Eagle’s Landing. But
to get to cityhood, backers of the city
of Eagle’s Landing have a map and
plan to carve out roughly one-third
of the households and residents of
the existing city of Stockbridge, and
roughly one-half its tax digest.  municipalities considering defensive, if
And as the law is drafted, though
the balloting will directly impact both
municipalities, only residents who
reside within the proposed city limits
of Eagle’s Landing will have a vote.
Not if the mayor and city council of
Stockbridge and their lawyers arrive
first to enjoin that election. But they
may soon not be anywhere close to
alone in burning the midnight oil on
billable border disputes.
Since the Georgia GOP came into
power, beginning with the election
of Gov. Sonny Perdue in 2002, more
than a dozen new cities have been
created, primarily in Fulton, DeKalb
and Gwinnett counties, starting with
the city of Sandy Springs in 2005. And
along with the new municipalities
there have been dozens more
annexations by existing cities trying
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 6
Border wars
flames can sear and scorch all kinds of General Assembly, Deal is going out
‘One Man’s incumbents. with a record 21 vetoes for the 2018
Opinion’ Deal has been perhaps the most
successful governor of Georgia since
session. Given his batting average, I’m
just going to guess and hope that he just
Zell Miller. His legacy not yet complete, missed on this one.
Bill Crane he crafted a compromise which kept the
bill.csicrane@gmail.com HOPE scholarship financially afloat,
expanded Georgia Pre-K, delivered Bill Crane also serves as a political
on the largest tax cut in state history, analyst and commentator for Channel 2’s
to both protect territory and broaden
practically rewrote the prosecution Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk 750
their tax bases.
system for lower level crime and non- and now 95.5 FM, as well as a columnist
And now, Georgia’s General
violent offenses and fully funded the for The Champion, DeKalb Free Press and
Assembly has in effect ‘green lighted’
Quality Basic Education Act for the Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb native
land grabs aplenty with cities gobbling
first time since it was passed into law in and business owner, living in Scottdale. You
up each of the others’ most fruitful
1985. can reach him or comment on a column at
and plumb parcels. Not waiting
And not yet ready for lame-duck bill.csicrane@gmail.com.
for that ink even to dry, the city of
status in his final term with the Georgia
Decatur is considering annexation
of a light industrial parcel at its
eastern border along Ponce de Leon
Avenue. Developers are seeking to
build a 40-foot retaining wall and
lesser elevations surrounding up to 450
units of new apartments, to welcome
newcomers to the once-charming burb
best known for its city schools, quaint
homes and diverse places of worship.
Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett
complete its Comprehensive
Development Plan and that DeKalb’s
13 existing municipalities await those
results before carving up the vast
unincorporated remaining areas of
DeKalb County, as another push is on
to create a new city of 300,000, called
Greenhaven, swallowing the southern
half of the county, has all other DeKalb
ill-advised, land grabs.
City Schools of Decatur, among
the state’s top performers, has been
growing enrollment at nearly 10
percent per year, reaching near
capacity in 2014. New school
buildings are already needed, as
the new apartment unit inventory
ringing the city borders are breaching
2,000 new homes, occupied or
under construction. The new walled
9-acre complex under most recent
consideration is expected to add 50-
100 new students to an attendance
district with the smallest elementary
school whose current enrollment is
250.
Temperatures may be higher daily
along the Rio Grande, and the border
wall likely to never reach from Texas to
California, but don’t forget closer peak
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LOCAL
Decatur police prepare
for ‘hands-free’ law
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
On May 2, Governor
Nathan Deal signed the hands-
free Georgia act into law and
with it come a new set of rules
for police departments to be
aware of.
After July 1, it will be illegal
for Georgia drivers to operate
a vehicle while holding their
phones.
House Bill 673 was signed
into law by Deal and states “a
driver cannot have a phone
in their hand or use of any
part of their body to support
their phone. Drivers can only
use their phones to make
or receive calls by using an
earpiece, wireless headphones
or smartwatch.”
Sgt. Bender with the
Decatur Police Department
said the new law will be easier
to enforce.
“The way the law is written
now….it’s very hard to enforce.
That’s why it’s being changed,”
Bender said. “There are many
loopholes with the way the
law is written now. Everything
must be hands free. Now it’s
going to be a thousand times
One bus driver rehired from sickout firings
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
One of the DeKalb County
School District (DCSD) bus
drivers fired for staging a
sickout has been rehired.
District officials confirmed
to The Champion that the
bus driver returned to work
May 7. According to the
district, seven drivers were
fired for helping to organize
a sickout April 19, 20 and 23
that resulted in 670 bus driver
absences over the three days.
The sickout was in response
to concerns drivers said they
have been raising with the
district for years, such as
improvements in the safety of
the buses, fair pay and quality
working conditions.
DCSD Superintendent
Stephen Green said in a press
conference that the sickout
threatened the safety of
students and that the district
easier.”
According to HB 673, local
law enforcement agencies
and the Georgia Department
of Public Safety will have the
option to issue a warning for
hands-free violations as part of
the “education process” and to
help motorist adjust to the new
law.
Bender said Georgia does
not have a 90-day grace period
and citations can be issued
starting July 1.
“We’re definitely going to
have a lot of in-house training
on the new law just because
there’s a lot of intricacies to it,”
Bender said. “We’re trained to
notice very minor things with
drivers like paying attention
to seatbelts, brake lights and
the way people are driving.
Now it’s just a matter of paying
attention if someone has
something in their hand.”
According to the new law,
drivers can use a GPS system
or mapping app. Drivers can
also use their phone to speak
or text as long as they are using
“hands-free” technology.
DeKalb County School District buses parked at district headquarters on Mountain Industrial Boulevard. Photo by Derek Smith.
viewed the sickout as a public
employee strike, which is
illegal under Georgia law.
Since the firings, the
Atlanta chapter of the General
Defense Committee (GDC),
which advocates for collective
bargaining rights, among
other issues, has worked with
a group of current and former
DCSD bus drivers to organize
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 7
DeKalb County officials held a press conference April 18 at Clarkston's Crystal Pond as the pond was restocked with fish. Photos
by Horace Holloman
Proponents of the law said
it will have a positive impact
on the community. Similar
laws have been passed in 15
other states in the U.S. States
that passed a hands-free law
had a 16 percent decrease
in traffic fatalities in the two
years after the law was passed,
according to the governor’s
a movement to pressure the
district to rehire the fired
drivers. According to officials
with the GDC, the number of
fired drivers may be as high
as 10, though district officials
report only seven drivers were
fired because of the sickout.
According to the district,
Green has met with a group
representing the needs of the
office.
Under the law, the first
offense would result in a
$50 fine and one point on a
license. The second conviction
is a $100 fine and two points
on a license. The third and
subsequent convictions are a
$150 fine and three points on a
license.
drivers on a regular basis since
the day before the sickout
began. The group organized by
the GDC said this group does
not represent their concerns.
“There is no way to
seriously negotiate about the
issues the drivers have raised
when [Green] has silenced
the voices who were the most
vocal,” GDC member Brandon
“I think this is a good idea.
The law we have now was a
good start, however it was just
unenforceable,” Bender said.
“I feel with this law, hopefully
people will get tired of getting
pulled over and just put their
phone up while their driving.”
Oliver said April 26 at an event
in support of the fired drivers.
“Organized drivers have made
clear that the remainder of the
committee does not represent
the body of drivers that rallied
sickouts.”
According to information
provided by the district April
23, DCSD bus drivers are the
second-highest paid school bus
drivers among their peers in
metro Atlanta school districts,
including those in Cobb
County, Gwinnett County,
Atlanta and Fulton County.
The district also said bus
drivers have received five cost-
of-living pay raises since 2014.
The Atlanta GDC has
started a fund to help
support drivers who
remain unemployed. DCSD
spokesperson Eileen Houston-
Stewart told The Champion
that no other drivers are
expected to be rehired at this
time.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 8

Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett addressed concerns residents have about coexisting
with pedestrians and motorists.

Decatur discusses
bike lane options
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN layer of protection between
horace@dekalbchamp.com cars and pedestrians.” Photo Illustration by Kemesha Wadley
Not everyone is in favor of

Decatur police warn

For years, Decatur has increased bike lanes. In 2017
advertised itself as a walkable, Decatur officials proposed
bikeable city. However, the reducing Commerce Drive car
city’s emphasis on pedestrian lanes to add a bicycle track.

against phone scam

travel created tension between
drivers and bikers, according
to city officials.
Decatur Mayor Patti
Garrett addressed some of the
issues during a public meeting
in May. Garrett said she hopes
drivers, bikers and pedestrians
can coexist peacefully on the
streets.
“We recognize that the
urban tension exists,” Garrett
said. “We want to move car
traffic through as quickly and
efficiently as possible. There
sometimes exist some tension
between the ways that we like
to get around...all groups really
do make a strong claim to the
street.”
In 2007, Decatur, through
a third-party organization,
submitted a survey to residents
asking if they support or
oppose a “complete streets”
policy which requires most
streets to have bicycle and
pedestrian safety features.
According to the survey,
support for the policy has
increased from 2007 to 2018.
“That’s what we’re trying to
address and we’re looking for
solutions,” Garrett said. “We’re
trying to figure out how we
keep traffic moving.”
Garrett said she enjoys
Several Decatur and Avondale
Estates residents signed a
petition urging the city to
rethink the idea.
Many expressed concerns of
increased car traffic in the area
if a bike track was added.
“Traffic on Commerce is
bad enough as is. My one-
mile commute down Ponce
should not take [more than] 10
minutes,” said Scott Candler
IV.
Robert Wetzel, of Decatur,
said decreasing car lanes in the
area would make the downton
Decatur area hard to navigate.
“Commerce Drive is our
bypass. By reducing Commerce
down to two lanes, auto traffic
will almost certainly increase
on Ponce de Leon, Church
and Clairemont,” Wetzel said.
“As an avid biker, I am all for
bike lanes on Ponce, Church,
possibly even Trinity Avenue
but not Commerce. Living on
the east side of Decatur, it has
become increasingly difficult to
get in and out of town.”
Garrett said Decatur will
continue its efforts to make
the city as pedestrian friendly
as possible. The city plans to
increase sidewalk maintenance
repair, have sidewalks on all
residential streets in Decatur
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
City of Decatur Police
issued a warning to Decatur
residents, urging them to be
cautious of potential phone
scams.
According to Decatur police
officials, residents reported
incidents of a potential
phone scam. Decatur Public
Information Officer Jennifer
Ross said the first scam
appeared to be a sales call.
A caller ID indicated the
call was coming from City of
Decatur government and came
from a number which is not
assigned to any city official
with Decatur, Ross said.
Ross said the individuals
manipulated the caller ID to
entice people to answer the
phone and gather further
information.
“The entire purpose of these
calls is to scare people into
providing personal information
or financial information,” Ross
said. “There’s always a new
fraud coming out. It’s all across
the country. When you google
these numbers of where they’re
claiming to call from, you will
see all of these [links] come up
from all over the United States.
Don’t fall for it.”
Ross said there also have
been reports of individuals
claiming to be agents with the
FBI who are issuing a final
notification “against your case
from the department of tax and
crime investigation.”
The callers claim that
the home address is under
investigation and a warrant has
been issued. The call recipients
are then instructed to call
(415)-842-9158.
Ross said the call is a
computer-generated “robocall”
that is being made across
the United States. When the
number is called, individuals
are instructed to leave a
message.
“We want people to be
aware that this is happening,”
Ross said. “No agency will call
you and tell you that you’re
under investigation and that
you have a warrant out or to
send or wire money. That is
always going to be a scam. Just
hang up.”
Ross said elderly individuals
are often the victims of phone
scams. She advised to inform
neighbors of potential scams.
“Just check on your
neighbors and let them know.
Be aware and let your senior
neighbors know what’s going
on. Tell them it’s not rude and
perfectly OK to hang up,” Ross
said.

walking the city with her
husband and seeing people
walk and bike to school
gives Decatur a sense of
#ItsInTheChampion
city limits, improve signal
timings at traffic lights and
create safer routes to school.
“We are working toward

“community.”
“It’s nice to see people out
and enjoying our bike lanes.
Bike lanes not only protect
bicyclists, but it adds another
TheChampionNewspaper.com
solutions and we’re trying to
make it easier for everyone
to have a space and a place in
Decatur,” Garrett said.
 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

DeKalb seniors dance at the closing ceremony for the DeKalb County Senior Olympics.

Joann Bowden and Charles Palmer, representing team TKO, pose for a photo at the American Cancer
Society Relay for Life April 27 at Hallford Stadium.

Kingsley Concessions delivered snacks to the classroom for Kingsley Elementary School teachers as part of
National Teacher Appreciation Week May 11. Photo courtesy DeKalb County School District.

DeKalb County sanitation officials meet with students at Hambrick Elementary School as a part of the school’s Decatur High School resource officer Tiffany Edwards received the DeKalb Bar Association 2018 Law
career day May 11. Photo courtesy DeKalb County School District. Enforcement Officer of the Year Award.

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

LOCAL
Local faith leaders gathered at Columbia Presbyterian Church in Decatur to celebrate and thank
immigrant mothers and ask lawmakers to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act.
Faith leaders celebrate immigrant mothers, promote DACA
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Immigrant mother of three
Jessina Rodriguez said she’s
very proud of her sons. One is
an optometrist and the other
two are engineers.
Rodriguez said her sons
are living the American dream
but every day she worries their
dream may be snatched away.
During a demonstration
May 10 at Columbia
Presbyterian Church in
Decatur, mothers and
local faith leaders honored
immigrant mothers and
asked state officials to save the
Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA) otherwise
known as the Dreamer’s Act.
“This is for all the mothers
who have children who are
benefactors of DACA. This
is very important to these
children and this community,”
Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez, who has lived
in Georgia for nearly two
decades, said all her sons
benefit from DACA.
“There are a lot of young
ones, including [my] children,
my three sons, who are
positively affected by DACA,”
Rodriguez said. “My sons are
very sad about all that’s going
on and them taking [DACA]
away from the students.”
Faith and community
leaders delivered a large
Mother’s Day card to state
Rep. Karen Handel and urged
her and other lawmakers
to “uphold immigration
policies that protect and unite
immigrant families.”
Rev. Caroline Magee with
St. Bede’s Episcopal Church
in Tucker, said people need to
come together to help their
fellow neighbors.
“Tearing up families
contributes to instability
that ripples through our
communities. Let’s stop doing
that right now. It serves no
purpose other than to do
lasting harm to young people,”
Magee said. “I’m hopeful
that [Karen Handel] can go
to Washington, D.C., and
influence people. We do not rip
families apart in Georgia.”
In 2017, President Donald
Trump defunded DACA. On
April 24, a federal judge ruled
the move by Trump is illegal
because there’s already a law in
place which requires notice-
and-comment procedures and
an opportunity for the public
to weigh in on certain changes.
“Dreamers don’t know
if they’re going to be able to
celebrate any more Mother’s
Days with their moms. Even
family reunification, the core
principle of our immigration
system for the past 50 years, is
under attack. We are here to
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 10
Rev. Diane Dougherty signs a card which was mailed to state Rep. Karen Handel.
honor these mothers and stand
with them in solidarity,” said
Rev. Tom Haygood.
Haygood, a pastor at
Columbia Presbyterian
Church, said local faith leaders
want lawmakers to stop
detention and deportation
of pregnant mothers, defund
immigration enforcement
efforts that separate moms
from their children, provide
“dreamers” and Temporary
Protected Status (TPS) holders
a path to citizenship and reject
further limits to family-based
sponsorship.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE 2018-2019 PROPOSED BUDGET
FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, GEORGIA
There will be public hearings on the proposed 2018-2019 budget for the City of Decatur at
7:30 p.m. on June 4, 2018 and, at 7:30 p.m. on June 18, 2018 in the City Commission Meeting
Room at City Hall, 509 N. McDonough Street, Decatur. The proposed budget is summarized
below and is available in its entirety for public inspection at Decatur City Hall and at the Decatur
Library on Sycamore Street. After May 22nd, the budget will be available on the City’s website
at www.decaturga.com/budget. All citizens are invited to attend the public hearings, to provide
written and oral comments, and ask questions concerning the entire budget.
FY 2018-2019 PROPOSED GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
REVENUES
Taxes 20,950,000
Licenses, Permits & Inspections 1,153,550
Penalties, Fines & Forfeitures 1,106,000
Interest Income 2,000
Charges for Current Services 2,089,460
Intergovernmental Revenues 530,780
Miscellaneous Revenue 116,000
Sale of Fixed Assets 10,000
Operating Transfers (687,550)
Appropriation From (To) Fund Balance 1,481,030
TOTAL REVENUES $26,751,270
EXPENDITURES
Governmental Control Department 211,480
General Government Department 1,301,340
Community & Economic Development Department 2,648,490
Administrative Services Department 4,675,070
Police Department 6,068,990
Fire & Rescue Department 3,607,330
Public Works Department 3,529,160
Design, Environment & Construction Division 2,147,520
Active Living Division 2,561,890
TOTAL EXPENDITURES $26,751,270
LOCAL
DeKalb police officers remember those who lost their life in the line of duty in DeKalb County.
OFFICERS Continued From Page 1
the nation. These souls were
heavily involved in situations
that require courage, skill
and tenacity,” Lumpkin said.
During the month of
May, law enforcement
agencies throughout the
country honor fallen officers
and their families. The
Fallen Officer’s Memorial
ceremony included the
reading of names of officers
who lost their lives in the
line of duty.
“When we think of
citizenship, we should
all recognize that these
officers and peacekeepers
serve us with an ultimate
responsibility,” Lumpkin
#ItsInTheChampion
TheChampionNewspaper.com
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 11
said.
Among those honored at
the ceremony were DeKalb
County Police officers Ricky
Bryant and Eric Barker
who were shot and killed
while working security at
the Glenwood Gardens
apartments in 2008. Sheriff-
elect Derwin Brown, who
was shot in his driveway in
2000 three days before he
was to be sworn into office, Joseph Lumpkin, deputy chief operating officer of public DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond expressed condolences to
was also mentioned. safety, gave remarks during the ceremony. families of fallen officers.
DeKalb County CEO
Michael Thurmond and “We recognize DeKalb’s your sorrow,” Thurmond in the gap to make us safe.
DeKalb County Police greatest heroes. To the said. “The men and women We must ensure that their
Chief James Conroy also families and loved ones and we remember today stood sacrifice was not in vain.”
made statements during the those whose names are on in the gap between safety
ceremony. this memorial, we join in and sacrifice. They stood
EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 12

Five high schools in

DeKalb County named
among best in U.S.
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb School of the Arts
(DSA) is the second best high
school in Georgia and the 75th
best in the nation, according to
new rankings released May 9
by U.S. News and World Report.
“I’m very pleased that
we continue to be noticed
through this ranking.” DSA
Principal Susan McCauley
told The Champion. “We
have intrinsically motivated
students that come to DeKalb
School of the Arts, that really
care about learning. We have
very dedicated staff that
work to meet the needs of all
students. Our students come
(to the school) with varying
levels of achievement and we
work with each student to try
to maximize their potential.
In addition to DSA,
Chamblee Charter High School
(CCHS) of the DeKalb County
School District (DCSD) and
Decatur High School (DHS)
of City Schools of Decatur
(CSD) earned gold medal
recognitions. Two other DCSD
schools—Arabia Mountain
High School Academy of
Engineering Medicine and
Environmental Studies
and DeKalb Early College
Academy—were honored,
earning silver and bronze
medals respectively.
A gold designation is
given to schools ranked
in the top 500 schools for
college readiness based on
the magazine’s index. Silver-
designated schools have
lower college readiness than
gold schools, and bronze
schools perform well on state
assessments.
“Gold medal recognition
list, produced annually by the “I think [DCSD] has college readiness index while
is years in the making,” DHS
magazine, ranked more than made great gains in meeting CCHS—which ranked 14th in
principal Arlethea Williams
6,500 high schools nationwide the needs of diverse student Georgia and 457th nationally—
told The Champion in an email.
on four criteria: students populations,” McCauley scored a 59.7. DHS ranked
“Over the last decade, we’ve
expectations in their states; said. “If you look at the 16th in Georgia and 496th in
worked to hold students to a
underserved (Black, Hispanic demographics of each of the the country, scoring 57.9 on
higher expectation of learning
or low-income) students who schools, they’re completely the index.
… This gold medal shows
performed better than the state different. With each school “We have a strong
us that we are on our way to
average; a student graduation looking so different, I think advanced placement program
meeting our goal of every
rate of more than 80 percent that shows that the district here. For such a small school,
student pursuing their passions
and student preparedness for Is supporting students from the number of students that
in high school and beyond.”
college-level coursework based wherever they started to take AP classes is really
According to the U.S. News
on the magazine’s custom wherever they want to be.” amazing,” McCauley said.
and World Report website, the
college readiness index. DSA earned an 88.1 on the

Parent’s dissatisfied with City Schools of Decatur special needs report

BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
Parents of students with special
needs in City Schools of Decatur (CSD)
were dissatisfied with a report on the
district’s special education program,
according to a post and comments
on the CSD Special Education Parent
Teacher Association Facebook page.
Georgia State University’s (GSU)
College of Education and Human
Development presented the report to
the CSD Board of Education at the May
8 board meeting. The report is a result
of a $93,000 contract approved by the
CSD school board in Dec. 2016 to have
GSU conduct an evaluation on the CSD
special education program.
The report was based on nine
months of research, according to
executive director of the GSU Urban
Child Study Center Nicole Patton-
Terry. It consisted of a 29-page slide
show and a two-page summary of the
slide show.
“I left with more questions than
answers,” president of the CSD
Special Education Parent Teacher
Association Kara Campbell wrote on
her organization’s Facebook page. “Will
we have access to the whole report? Or
were the slides the whole report?”
The report, which is available on the
CSD website, presented several findings
and recommendations, including that
CSD is growing rapidly. This growth has
resulted in an increase in the number of
students with special education needs.
Since 2011, the number of students
served by CSD schools with special
education needs has nearly tripled,
according to the report.
The report also found that shifts in
the disability populations served has
created challenges with service delivery
and communication between families,
teachers, schools, and administration.
The report recommended that CSD
strengthen communication protocols
in special education to ensure common
language and expectations. The report
also recommended that the district
consider grade level and disability
type in the allocation of resources,
professional learning opportunities
across all grade levels and in CSD’s
school configuration.
Currently, CSD elementary schools
serve students in kindergarten through
third grade that feed into an academy
for fourth- and fifth-grade students. An
academy for students in third through
fifth grade is set to open at the start
of the 2019 school year. According
to school officials, this will shift the
configuration of the district to a system
of kindergarten through second grade
schools that feed into two academies of
students in third through fifth grade.
Campbell said she wanted more out
of the presentation, such as inclusion of
the parents’ comments from interviews
conducted during the research phase.
“I had a hard time reconciling my
own experiences, as a parent to three
[special education] students, with what
was presented last night,” she wrote. “I
want to be part of this process.”
Comments on Campbell’s post
echoed her dissatisfaction. Campbell
suggested the formation of an
independent committee of parents and
stakeholders to form a plan of action
beyond public comment at the next
board meeting June 14.
CSD Superintendent David
Dude said on his blog that he and
the board would return at a future
meeting “for discussion and possible
recommendations.”

Follow us on Social Media @Dekalbchampnews

BUSINESS
Stratford-on-Avondale—new eatery embraces city’s Tudor theme
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
Veteran restaurateur James
Maggard often names his
establishments to honor their
locale. He continued that
tradition when he opened The
Stratford Bar and Restaurant
in Avondale Estates on the
first day of 2018.
Just as one of his other
DeKalb County restaurants,
Local 7 in Tucker, is named
to reflect the area’s railroad
heritage and the tracks that
run by the building, The
Stratford’s name honors its
surroundings.
“Avondale Estates takes
its name from Stratford-on-
Avon in England and borrows
such touches as Tudor-
inspired architecture. We
continued that theme in this
restaurant,” Maggard said of
the establishment now in the
building formerly occupied
by Pallookaville.
British inspiration doesn’t
stop with the name. The bar
has an extensive collection
of British and Irish beers,
and the menu includes such
items as fish and chips and
shepherds pie, echoing the
fare of the ubiquitous pubs of
the British Isles. Saturday and
Sunday brunch features such
British touches as bangers
(sausages) and white and
black pudding.
Maggard said he especially
recommends the deli roast
beef sandwich. “It’s high-
quality rare roast beef with
sautéed red peppers, greens
and provolone cheese, served
on an onion roll that’s made
with Vidalia onions—so it’s a
little bit England and a little
bit Georgia.”
Other items on the menu
are clearly inspired by other
corners of the world such as
south of the border offerings
tacos, nachos and quesadillas.
Some items, including the
Brunswick stew and the
pimento cheese spread
remind diners they are still
in the South. Maggard said
he sometimes tweaks the
menu to reflect customer
preferences and he’s open
to customer suggestions on
brands of beer and wine.
Maggard said he was
introduced to the hospitality
industry as he worked in
bars and restaurants to help
meet expenses while he was
in college. “I really enjoyed
the social aspects of it as well
as learning about such places
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 13
from a business standpoint.
After college, I worked in
the corporate world, but
after a while I realized I was
better suited to running a
restaurant,” he said.
While continuing to
manage special events at
Local 7, Maggard works day-
to-day at the Stratford. He
commented that experience
in the industry has taught
him that making a restaurant
operate smoothly and
successfully take diligence. “A
restaurant runs on pennies
and nickels, not on dollars,”
he said. “You have to keep
your eye on even the smallest
details. You have to hire
reliable staff and work closely
with them every day.”
Maggard’s partner at the
Stratford, Andy Anselmo,
first worked with him at Local
7. “Now he’s a managing
partner. That’s how we do
things. We take good people,
develop them and let them
grow with us.”
He said plans are under
way for a barbecue restaurant
to open in Tucker before the
end of the year. “We’ll do the James Maggard says he likes opening restaurants in strong, cohesive communities such as Avondale Estates.
same thing there. People who
are already with us will have
the opportunity to continue
growing their careers as we day. That’s another example of Like the former tenant, The area available to be rented for
grow our businesses.” how they’re working with us.” Stratford makes its upstairs special events.
Maggard said he chose
Avondale Estates because,
City Schools of Decatur
like Tucker, it has a strong, Budget for Fiscal Year 2019
cohesive community that’s on July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019
the move. “Both cities are in a
rapid growth phase. The local General Fund Special Funds Nutrition Fund Capital Funds
government and residents ESTIMATED REVENUES
are excited about the cities’ Local Taxes $ 32,087,672 $ 5,000,000
growth and they support new Local Other 2,958,640 $ 1,636,750
businesses coming in. Here in State General 28,364,039
Avondale Estates we’ve gotten State Other $ 836,562 44,000
Federal 1,384,293 665,000 171,065
great support from the start.
Transfers from Other Funds 251,739
City government, the business General Fund Balance Obligated 8,578,057
community and those who Capital Fund Balance Restricted 20,326,908
live and work here have all Total Revenues $ 71,988,408 $ 2,472,594 $ 2,345,750 $ 25,497,973
been really supportive. Police
officers and firefighters are in ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES
here every day.” Instruction $ 47,244,039 $ 2,143,526 $ 750,000
The lunch menu, he said, Pupil Services 3,402,529 209,816
offers simple inexpensive fare Improvement of Instructional Services 1,177,406 16,407
created with area workers on Instructional Staff Training 8,000
lunch break in mind. “Soups, Educational Media Services 1,306,513
Federal Grant Administration 75,675
sandwiches, salads and other
General Administration 1,358,287
quick items—that customers School Administration 5,525,406 345,000
can mix and match—are Support Services - Business 581,126
offered to get diners in, out Maintenance and Operation of Plant Services 6,167,935 25,000
and back to work,” Maggard Student Transportation Service 1,377,424 19,170 87,500
continued. Support Services - Central 2,113,181 105,000
Although the parking lot Other Support Services 109,500
seems small, there’s plenty School Nutrition Program 1,066,665 $ 2,345,750
of parking, according the Community Services Operations
Maggard. “The municipal Facilities Acquisition and Construction Services 21,850,000
Transfers to Other Funds 251,739
buildings are right down the
Debt Service 306,658 2,335,473
street city officials are happy Total Expenditures $ 71,988,408 $ 2,472,594 $ 2,345,750 $ 25,497,973
to allow our customers to
park there, especially after The Fiscal Year 2019 Tentative Budget will be considered for final adoption by the Board of Education at
they close for business each 6:30 PM at the regular board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 12, 2018. The meeting will be held in the
Board Room of the Central Office at 125 Electric Avenue.
 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 14

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LOCAL
Tucker Mayor Frank Auman delivered his second state of the city address at city hall. Photos by Carla Parker
Tucker mayor outlines goals in state of the city address
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Enhancing downtown, improving
transportation connections and
bolstering the economic base are
a few of the goals Tucker hopes to
accomplish, according to Mayor Frank
Auman.
Auman gave his second state
of the city address May 11. During
the address, he discussed the city’s
accomplishments in 2017-2018 and
what the city hopes to accomplish in
the next 12 months.
“To understand the state of the city
today we have to recall, reexamine and
reaffirm the promises, purposes and
#ITSINTHECHAMPION
the aspirations we began with,” Auman
said.
Another major accomplishment
from earlier this year is the city
assuming responsibility of its parks and
Tucker Recreation Center from DeKalb
County. The city hired Rip Robertson
as director of parks and recreation.
Under Robertson’s guidance the staff
has made vast improvements to the rec
center and parks, according to Auman.
“We’ve been able to fully assess and
make big improvements to our busiest
parks,” he said. “The rec center is
cleaner and busier than ever.”
Other accomplishments the city
made were finalizing intergovernmental
agreements (IGA) with the county
covering police, roads and drainage,
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 15
storm water and 911 services. The
city council adopted the city’s first
comprehensive plan, and the city
operated a balanced budget that
allowed for additional money to be put
in reserve for future projects and the
city has $5 million in special-purpose
local-option sales tax (SPLOST) money.
“Included in that budget are
the major follow up studies of our
comprehensive plan,” Auman said.
“The [comprehensive] plan is the
highest level, overarching plan of the
aspirations of the city.”
Auman said through the
comprehensive plan, the city will
look deeper into individual subjects,
including roads and connectivity in the
transportation master plan, a systematic
look into the parks’ master plan, a study
on walking trails, the development of
the city’s downtown area and safety
improvement on local roads.
“Every one of these studies, like
our comprehensive plan, will be led by
professionals in the field in conjunction
with committees made up of our own
citizens,” Auman said.
“All of these goals are being pursued
and carried out by the people of Tucker
in powerful ways that leverage the spirit
of the community that existed long
before we were a city,” Auman added.
“These goals will continue to decide our
decision making.”
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 • Page 16

Chamblee girls repeat as
state tennis champions
Dunwoody boys fall to Johns Creek
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The Chamblee Lady
Bulldogs are back-to-back state
tennis champions.
Chamblee won its second
consecutive Class AAAAA
girls state tennis title after
a 3-2 win over Kell at the
Rome Tennis Center at
Berry College May 12. Junior
Grace Pietkiewicz sealed
the championship for the
Lady Bulldogs after a four-
hour, three-set singles match,
according to DeKalb County
School District Athletics
Specialist Mark Brock.
Chamblee and Kell were
tied 2-2, and Pietkiewicz was
in a winner-takes-all situation
against Kell’s Emily Dearing
in the No. 2 singles match.
Pietkiewicz won the first set
7-5 and Dearing won the
second set 6-3.
Pietkiewicz won the final
set 6-4 and finished the season
with a 16-1 record.
Senior Olena Bulikha and
junior Madeline Meer won
the No. 1 doubles match with
a two-set sweep (6-3, 6-0) and
freshman Neena Katauskas
won her No. 3 singles match
2-0 (6-0, 6-3) and finished the
season 15-0.
Sophomore Madison Trinh
fell 2-0 (6-4,6-0) to Nicole
Abel in the No. 1 singles match
and Emilya Ershtein and Lila
David dropped their No. 2
doubles match.
Chamblee became the
second DeKalb girls’ tennis
team to win back-to-back
state championships after
Dunwoody’s 1980 and 1981
wins.
Dunwoody boys fell 3-0
against region rival Johns
Creek in the Class AAAAAA
championship match. Johns
Creek’s Cole Gromley gave his
team a 1-0 lead after winning
the No. 1 singles match (6-1,
6-0) over Dunwoody junior
Cole Brainerd.
Johns Creek’s Jackson
Hanroth and Zach Fisher
defeated Dunwoody’s Daniel
Bynum and Kyle Puni in
straight sets in No. 2 doubles,
and Johns Creek sealed the
state title in the No. 2 singles
match in which Ethan Howie
defeated Dunwoody junior
Cade Lautenbacher.
Paideia boys, Marist girls win soccer state titles
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The Marist Lady War Eagles
soccer team ended a three-year
championship game losing
streak to St. Pius X.
Marist defeated St. Pius
2-1 in the Class AAAA girls’
championship game May
12 at Mercer University in
Macon. This was the fourth
championship matchup
between the two teams and
St. Pius won the last three
meetings. This is Marist’s first
championship since 2014 and
eighth in program history.
Paideia won its fourth boys’ Class A state title in six seasons. The Lady War Eagles had
to come back from a first
half deficit. St. Pius’ Emory
Wegener gave the Lady Golden
Lions a 1-0 lead at the 33:36
mark in the first half. Marist’s
Liz Geeslin tied the game at
1-1 with a goal at the 37:53
mark and Caroline Ross sealed
the state title with a goal at the
7:24 mark.
Paideia won its fourth boys’
Class A state title in six seasons
after a 2-0 win over Atlanta
International May 12 at Mercer
University in Macon. Lorenzo
Socchi gave Paideia a 1-0 lead
in the first half at the 15:34
mark. Jack Reilly extended the
lead to 2-0 in the second half at
Marist won its first girls’ soccer championship since 2014 and eighth in program the 10:53 mark.
history.

GOT A NEWS TIP?

Horace Holloman
Horace@DeKalbChamp.com
Local news editor: covers county government/crime/
courts plus Decatur and Avondale Estates.

Carla Parker
Carla@DeKalbChamp.com
Sports editor: covers sports plus Stonecrest, Clarkston,
Lithonia, Stone Mountain and Tucker.

Derek Smith
Derek@DeKalbChamp.com

#ItsInTheChampion
Education editor: covers all things education-related plus
Brookhaven, Doraville, Chamblee, Dunwoody and Pine Lake.