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Decatur preps for BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass Festival

by Daniel Beauregard daniel@dekalbchamp.com

Photos by Travis Hudgons

his year the Decatur Barbeque, Blues and Bluegrass Festival is proud to have something that it has never had in its 11-year historya title sponsor. Now, the festival, which takes place on Aug. 20, is ofcially called the DeKalb Medical Decatur Barbeque, Blues & Bluegrass Festival. Were really fortunate that this year DeKalb Medical was looking for sponsorship opportunities, Kara Ansotegui, who has been organizing the event for the past six years, said. Ansotegui said the festival, which moved to its current location in Harmony Park six years ago, has always been looking for title sponsors. The economic downturn was a reason it had never had

one until now. I dont think that the opportunity was ever put out in advance in the past but since weve grown so much over the years DeKalb Medical just offered it to us, Ansotegui said. Festival organizers are expecting a crowd of approximately 6,000 people to come out this year to taste barbecue and listen to tunes. There will be barbecue from Black Tie Barbecue, Community Q and Fox Brothers, who are newcomers to the fest. Vegetarian fare will be provided by Decatur locals Badda Bing and New Belgium Brewing company will provide cold beer. The gates open at Harmony Park at 4 p.m. with live music until 10 p.m. This years lineup includes Will Scruggs, Flat Rock, Dappled Grays and Wasted Potential. The Decatur Recreation Department will also be operating a childrens space

with face painting, inatable play areas and other activities. The festival is a fundraiser, with all prots channeled directly into the Decatur community. It is presented this year by the Community Center of South Decatur, the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association and the Decatur Active Living Division. Sixty percent of proceeds go to those organizations and 40 percent go to a grant committee, Ansotegui said. Decatur organizations will then be able to apply and request grants of up to $5,000. Advance tickets are $10 for adults 21 and older, $5 for ages 11-20 and children 10 years old and younger are admitted free. Adult tickets at the gate are $15. Tickets can be purchased online at the festivals website. Coolers will not be permitted inside the festival venue.

Page 2A

The Champion, Thursday,Aug. 4 - 10, 2011

County leaders rally for I-20 MARTA rail

DeKalb County leaders board a MARTA bus to fight to keep the proposed I-20 East heavy rail project on a list of transportation projects that would be funded by a proposed penny-sales tax. Many in the group say they will not support the sales tax if the project, which would extend rail service from the Indian Creek station to Stonecrest Mall, is not on the list. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

by Andrew Cauthen

andrew@dekalbchamp.com

n a display of solidarity, DeKalb County leaders stood together to protest the exclusion of the proposed I-20 heavy rail transit system from a preliminary list of projects being considered for funding through a possible regional sales tax. We currently have no rail stops in south DeKalb County at all, said DeKalb County Commissioner Lee May during the Aug. 9 press conference and rally. And now were being asked to support another one-cent sales tax. If I-20 is not included in the projects, I cannot be supportive of the transportation referendum. Nearly a week after the rally, the executive committee of the Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable voted to partially fund the project which would have extended the MARTA rail system from the Indian Creek station to the Stonecrest Mall area in Lithonia. MARTA Executive Director Beverly Scott said the transportation roundtable left $225 million on the proposed list for the I-20 East project. That amount would fund a minimal operable segment with park-and-ride bus stations at Stonecrest Mall, Candler Road, DeKalb Medical Center and Wesley Chapel, Scott said. These will be the key transit centers that will eventually become starter [rail] stations, Scott said. These proposed parkand-ride locations would put boots-on-the-ground service in place sooner that a heavy rail transit system would. But county leaders are not satisfied with that plan. It is very important and imperative that we have a

voice in making sure that the I-20 corridor is respected and protected, said DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson. We believe that if we dont have rail, we cant support that additional penny, Johnson said. Im not settling for buses. Georgia State Sen. Ronald Ramsey (D-43) said the I-20 corridor was at one point the top-rated area for transit expansion by the Atlanta Regional Commission. How it could go from the top-rated spot to not a place at the table at all? [It] is inconceivable and it is unacceptable. Enacted last year by Georgias legislature, the Transportation Investment Act (HB 277) provides for regional referendums in 2012, which will include an option to vote on a pennysales tax to fund various transportation projects, including transit, roadway safety, bicycle and pedestrian improvements. A major part of regional transportation planning in the Atlanta metropolitan area has been geared toward improving and expanding the MARTA system. DeKalb County, along with Fulton County and the city of Atlanta, has been paying a one-penny sales tax for 30 years to support MARTA. Now, DeKalb County leaders say they want to see a return on the countys investment. DeKalb County has proven to be a strong regional partner, not just in word but in investment as well, May said. We have paid into Grady Hospital for decades now, knowing and understanding that that is to support really the entire state. We have paid that one cent sales tax to support MARTA transit for this region. We have to have

that investment returned to DeKalb County. County leaders said they could not support a regional transportation sales tax if the I-20 project is excluded. Theres no way, shape, form or fashion that well support that additional penny transportation tax if the I-20 corridor is not included, said John Evans, president of the DeKalb chapter of the NAACP. DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, who is a member of the Regional Transportation Roundtable, said the south DeKalb area needs to be served by a rail system. This is not just about what we as individuals want, Ellis said. This is about what makes good sense. If were going to address traffic congestion in the Atlanta region, weve got to start with transit and weve got to go to those areas where people live. Weve got to move people to the jobs. DeKalb County school board member Jay Cunningham said the proposed rail system would help create a future for children in the county. The rail line will bring jobs, will cut down on crime, will have a value to our community as kids want to come back and live in DeKalb County, Cunningham said. David Schutten, president of the Organization of DeKalb Educators, said that without the I-20 rail corridor, this penny sales tax has no chance in DeKalb County. This one-cent sales tax will not pass the region without DeKalb County coming out in force in favor of it, Schutten said. Still on the proposed transportation list is the Clifton corridor project that

would connect the Doraville or North Springs station to the Avondale Station. This project is also critical to the Atlanta region, DeKalb leaders said.

The regional roundtable has until Oct. 15 to finalize the project list, which will go to voters in a regional referendum in July 2012.

The Champion, Thursday, Aug. 4 - 10, 2011

Local News

Page 3A

NEWS BRIEFS
Teenager indicted on murder charges
A DeKalb County teenager was indicted Aug. 10 on charges of felon y murder and aggravated assault in the death of an 8-year-old boy. Charlie Robert Oliver is accused of shooting and killing the boy on July 6 at a home at 3579 Salem Glen Road in Lithonia at approximately 5:30 p.m., according to DeKalb County Police spokesman Mekka Parish. At the time of the shooting, the victims mother was in the house but was not in the room where the shooting happened, police said. The boy was taken to an area hospital and died later that night. It was not known at the time whom the gun belonged to, police said.

Man shot in jaw on Memorial Drive

A man driving on Memorial Drive was shot in the jaw Aug. 14, according to DeKalb County Police. The man was taken to an area hospital and was in serious condition, but the injury was not lifethreatening, police said. The incident happened at 4820 Memorial Drive at approximately 3:15 p.m. Police are searching for a Black man armed with a handgun who drove away from the incident in a black vehicle. No other information was released.

Dunwoody police department connects with residents through social media

by Daniel Beauregard daniel@dekalbchamp.com Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan got the idea to have a smart phone application for the police department when he gave a presentation at the SMILE Conference in Chicago several months ago. SMILE is the acronym for Social Media in Law Enforcement, and it was no coincidence that Grogan was invited to present at the conference. Since the Dunwoody Police Department was established on April 1, 2009, Grogan has made it a point to connect with residents through the use of social media. We wanted to try a lot of different ways to engage and connect with our community, knowing that it is a fairly technologically advanced community, Grogan said of the SMILE conference. Now, the department has more than 1,000 likes on Facebook, more than 2,200 followers on Twitter and uses YouTube to post videos of interest to the community. Peter Olson was there displaying information from his upcoming product and I knew it was something I wanted to get involved with, Grogan said. Olson is the founder of Wired Blue, a company that designs smart phone applications for police departments around the country. Olson said that he started the company because he wanted something to connect with the public in every possible way and he couldnt find an app to do what he wanted. At Wired Blue we figured that an app with a number of different features is important to the public and it shows that agencies like the Dunwoody Police are keeping up with technology and care about making their customer experience better, Olson said. Residents can download the app, click on the Dunwoody Police Department and use it to ask questions, submit tips, view its website, see current news and access social media sites and other features. According to Olson, approximately 30 departments in nine states are using the app. Eight have officially launched over the past two weeks and more than 150 have recently inquired about it. Grogan also has a personal blog and Twitter account; his handle is @chiefgrogan. I guess within the last three or four months I decided to do one myself. I posted something on there recently about traffic safety at the start of the school year, Grogan said. Although social media is not necessarily a crime deterrent, Grogan said that it has allowed the department to further its community oriented policing initiatives on a much broader level. He also said that reading the comments left on the departments Facebook page allows them to measure how successful a post has been at reaching residents. The press cant cover everything thats going on so this helps us get the word out, Grogan said. He also said it has been helpful in increasing public safety and making residents more aware of crimes that have taken place in their neighborhood. Olson said that he has spoken with cities that have had a number of users sending in useful tips, and parking and traffic complaints. Olson said he believes those tips will increase and that the tip feature is only a small part of the entire package. It is really about the whole experience and having a number of services and features available to the public. Some things, like automatically dialing department numbers, sending e-mails to the correct contact from the phone or checking news and social media updates are difficult, Olson said.

Browns Mill recreation center closed

The Browns Mill Recreation Center is closed for renovations. The DeKalb Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs department estimated that the work will be completed by December. The department encourages residents to participate in programs offered at nearby centersExchange Recreation Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur; Lucious Sanders Recreation Center, 2484 Bruce St., Lithonia; Redan Recreation Center, 1839 Phillips Road, Lithonia.

Gang members sentenced on carjacking charges

Five Sur-13 gang members, including two from DeKalb County, were sentenced Aug. 8 to lengthy prison terms on charges of carjacking and firearms offenses, according to a U.S. Attorneys Office spokesman. Pedro Barrera-Perez, 30, and Irma Ovalles, 21, both pleaded guilty to the charges in December, 2010. Barrera-Perez was sentenced to 24 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Ovalles was sentenced to 19 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Both were ordered by the court to pay $19,272 in restitution to the victims of their crimes. Both Barrera-Perez and Ovalles pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery of a grocery store, four counts of carjacking or attempted carjacking, and one count of discharging a firearm during one of the carjackings.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Opinion The Newslady

Page 4A

No rail, no new tax

tax paid to fund MARTA for over 30 years. If we are to pay another penny then we should see more of a return on our investment. As it stands now, there is precious little on the proposed list for DeKalb County, especially south DeKalb County. There is a proposal on the drawing boards for a Clifton Corridor rail project in DeKalb. That is a line to connect the Decatur and Lindbergh train stations, and it too is badly needed. As they should be, DeKalb officials are united in their support for both the I-20 and Clifton Corridor rail projects. The feeling is neither line should be excluded as both are critical to the economic viability of all of DeKalb and its quality of life. The executive committee that is recommending projects for the 10-county metro area has not made the I-20 project a priority. The I-20 project is a 5.4-mile rail line extension from the Indian Creek MARTA station to Wesley Chapel Road. DeKalb leaders have boldly and rightfully pronounced that if that project isnt included

When the DeKalb County CEO and commissioners are good, they are real good. Such was the case recently when CEO Burrell Ellis, Commission Presiding Officer Larry Johnson and other commissioners and community leaders stood united in their resolve. If the I-20 rail line project is not included, then DeKalb County would not support the $6.1 billion regional transportation plan. It was a rare show of cross-county unity and it was a beautiful sight. It was good. It was real good. Some might view their stance as selfish. But DeKalb County has earned the right to make such demands. DeKalb, Fulton and the city of Atlanta have traditionally supported transit demonstrating that commitment by the one-cent sales

in the 10-county proposal, then DeKalb wont support the new one-cent sales tax that is part of the referendum to be voted on next year. They are right on the money. There is considerable debate about how much money should be spent on roads versus transit. When we build more roads we attract more cars. We need traffic calming in metro getting people out of their cars and onto transit. Transit is a major tool to address issues of air quality, mobility and overall quality of life. When one considers Atlantas poor air quality and the exorbitant amount of time we spend in traffic, we simply dont need to build more roads for more cars. Skyrocketing gas prices might help in that regard. There is no longer a peak rush hour in metro. Traffic is heavy most of the day every day. And, we dont need more buses clogging up the roadways. Proponents of the innovative bus rapid transit system (BRT) will tell you they are trains on wheels. They are buses with designated lanes that have to be built and at some point merge with

more roads. BRTs can be hampered getting riders from point A to point B by traffic light signalization and yes, traffic. A healthy mix of expressway HOV lanes, buses (traditional buses, BRTs) and rail are the ideal in large urban centers. Its time MARTA trains took us where we need to go, where we live, work, worship and play. The transportation referendum is slated for a vote next year. Conventional wisdom is the measure cannot win without the support of Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb. These leaders are right to press our demands. We stepped up to the plate and taxed ourselves a penny to fund transit when the state and other jurisdictions refused. Thank you, DeKalb leaders. It was a beautiful show of unity. No rail, no new tax.

Steen Miles, The Newslady, is a retired journalist and former Georgia state senator. Contact Steen Miles at Steen@dekalbchamp.com.

Illegal foreclosure epidemic

by Jim Hightower Columnist

Robo-signing foreclosure paperwork is a federal crime, but no bank or banker has even been charged.
old scam called robo-signing. To foreclose on someones home, an authorized bank employee must sign the foreclosure document, swearing that the facts in it are true. But that requires hiring people to review each case. To avoid that cost, they take an illegal shortcut by signing the name of someone who has not read the document and might not even exist. In one Massachusetts county, for example, the signature of Linda Green has recently appeared on some 1,300 foreclosures. Curiously, her signature was written in many different styles, and she had many different titles. Also, theres no Linda Green presently working in the mortgage banking company involved. Meanwhile, state officials say that robo-signing is, once again, an epidemic all across the country. Its a federal crime to do this, yet no bank or banker has even been charged. Until we put a CEO in jail, the banking barons will never learn their lesson. Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer and public speaker. Hes also editor of the populist newsletter, The Hightower Lowdown.

Two-year-olds often go running around the house too wildly and crash into something. They get an ouchie and fall down crying, but they learn from it. Thats the virtue of the ouchie that Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and other big financiers got last year when they ran into the law after racing wildly through home foreclosure paperwork. They were caught falsifying thousands of documents and taking illegal shortcuts that were causing innocent families to lose their homes. They had to pay fines, make restitution, suspend foreclosures, and pledge to clean up their act. But at least they learned their lesson. Oh, wait these arent 2-yearolds. They are wily bankers, and the only lesson they ever seem to learn is that shortcuts can be profitable as long as you dont get caught. But once again theyve been caught rushing through foreclosures using the same

The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Raisin Cain and the Newtron bomb

and organizational bases in just four states, Minnesota - Congresswoman Bachmann and Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Texas - Congressman Paul and Gov. Rick Perry, Utah - Governors Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney (though Romney was actually governor in Massachusetts), and arguably Georgia - businessman Herman Cain and former House Speaker Gingrich. It is a strong sign of the factions and fractions within the GOP that instead of regional candidates developing in the field, candidates are still fighting for their respective home bases. Though Gingrich now calls Virginia home, and is perhaps the best known of the candidates in this field, his campaign appears all over but the Tweeting. He has a campaign treasury in deficit, a continually imploding campaign staff and his fundraising has reportedly skidded to a halt. He may have a wealth of ideas on the issues and might even live up to his own selfdesignation of genius, but voters in the Iowa Straw Poll and elsewhere are all but shouting, No thanks. Like another relic of the late 80s and early 90s, the Neutron Bomb was intended to use a high pulse yield of radiation to take out enemy combatants, even inside heavy armaments, while largely leaving infrastructure and surrounding architecture intact. Similarly the campaign that has become the Newtron Bomb leaves the candidate standing, despite no visible means of external support. Congressman Gingrich may well hang in through the fall, and even the Iowa Caucus or New Hampshire primary, but it difficult to see where or how he envisions ever rebuilding his electoral base. Georgias other favorite son, was initially considered a much longer shot. Though entrepreneur and former radio talk show host Cain dark horse candidate with a smile on his face and a gleam in his eye. Cain has been raisin Cain, funds on the web and his profile, among Tea Party voters as well as the GOP rank and file, with many tired of hearing among other things that their opposition to the policies and positions of the Obama White House are in some way race-based. It is likely, particularly with Pawlenty leaving the race, that Cain will better his showing in the Iowa Caucus a few months away. Yet Iowa is a small state, with a GOP largely dominated by activists in the Tea Party and fiscal and social conservatives. Cain plays well to both of those groups, but may not fare as well on a broader stage, or in states with open primaries drawing significant numbers of Independent, Libertarian and even Democratic voters with little else to do during the Presidential Preference Primaries of 2012. Cain will continue to inspire some voters, and likely broaden his fundraising successbut he may still find it difficult to become the darling of the major GOP donors who embraced then-Texas Gov. George Bush, or even reluctantly later, Arizona Sen. John McCain. President Obama may currently be traveling among the politically walking wounded, but he has no primary battles to fight, and his campaign war chest will reach into the hundreds of millions. Unless Cain breaks loose into the top three in the Iowa Caucus and later in the New Hampshire or South Carolina primaries, he would do well to continue speaking well to and of his opponents, as his chances are considerably brighter for consideration on the number two spot on the GOP ticket in the summer of 2012. With no Reagan in this field, and not even a George H.W. Bush of 2000, this GOP field will jell late, and the in-fighting will bruise front runner Romney, as well as the majority of the field. And well close this out with a couple of words that both our Georgia boys already find more than a little bit scary Rick Perry.
Bill Crane is a DeKalb County native and business owner, living in Scottdale, Georgia. He also serves as chief political analyst and commentator for 11Alive News and WSB Radio, News/Talk 750. Contact Bill Crane at billcrane@earthlink.com.

Opinion One Mans Opinion

Page 5A

There is a fundamental strategic difference between the traditional consulting community and the kind of campaign I want to run. In a year or so, we will see who is right, GOP presidential candidate and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the afternoon of Thursday, June 9, 2011, following the exodus of his campaign staff. The GOP Presidential Iowa Straw Poll results are in, and it was a very good day for Iowa native and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, as well as Texas Congressman Ron Paul, a prior GOP presidential candidate and Libertarian Party nominee. Among the GOP sea of more than one dozen announced presidential aspirants, eight have been vying for their political, financial

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Opinion

Page 6A

Cant anybody here play this game?

With the economy foundering like a man overboard in heavy seas, weve attempted to rescue it by throwing it an anchor.
are claiming victory because of it. It happened on your watch, Mr. President, crowed the tea partys Joan of Arc, Michele Bachmann, to a friendly Iowa crowd. That reminds me of the time Hitler blamed Poland for starting World War II. Not that the President is entirely without blame. He seems incapable of standing up to the bullies in Congress. His Gee guys, cant we all be friends and get along? theory of leadership is well past its sell-by date. Back when Jimmy Carters presidency was falling off a cliff, he made a dull speech and a bored copy editor at TheBostonGlobe wrote the headline More Mush from the Wimp across the top of an editorial. It was a joke, intended for internal consumption only. As those jokes have a way of doing, however, it got into the paper. The other day when Obama was giving another of his What we have here is a failure to communicate talks announcing that he was going to come up with a proposal to save the economy, more mush from the wimp flashed through my mind. Alas. Republicans are now touting a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Cut, cap and balance, they say (when you feed them a cracker). Its a truly terrible idea. What President Obama should be doing now is making a fighting speech informing the nation on why its a terrible idea, explaining that it would render the government impotent in the face of any emergency that came down the pike and would make great national projects virtually impossible. He should point out that a balanced budget in hard times just makes the times harder and that even households that virtuously balance their checkbooks go into debt to buy homes and cars and pay for educations. He should tell us that he will not agree to any more cuts in the budget without a commensurate rise in taxes, and he should explain why thats a good idea. Thats what we need from the President of the United States. We dont need any more mush from the wimp.
The following comments are pulled straight from our website and are not edited for content or grammar.

If I were Thomas Paine (which I sometimes think I am) I would say: These are the times that try mens souls. If I were Charles Dickens (which I never think I am) I would say: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. And if I were William Butler Yeats (never, ever, never) I would say: The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity. I am more of the Casey Stengel school of political philosophy, so like that baseball great I say: Cant anybody here play this game? Apparently not. For the past year or so our chosen representatives in Washington have done everything wrong. Everything. With the economy foundering like a man overboard in heavy seas, weve attempted to rescue it by throwing it an anchor. Weve put productive public workers on the street in the name of fiscal prudence. Weve backed away from the building of roads, bridges and other public works vital to a vibrant economy. Weve cut back on our investment in public education, stunting the best hope for future prosperity. Weve treated the unemployment crisis as though it were a mild inconvenience; weve acted as though inflation was the great enemy while the far greater threat of deflation lurked just over the horizon; and weve failed to heed any of the lessons of the past. To make matters even worse, if thats possible, we squandered our AAA credit rating for no reason at all no legitimate reason anyway. As a result, the stock market swooned and markets around the world trembled at the thought of the United States of America playing Russian roulette with its economy. And even worse yet, the very people who caused this debacle, the iron-willed (with heads to match) Republicans in the House,

Publix still weighing whether to continue curbside service

The Toco Hill store is exceptionally well run,with friendly and very efficient staff.Altho we are an almost 80yo robust couple we have seen the convenient curbside service in action many times making shopping far less stressful for less fortunate folks,both young and old.We hope they keep the program going. Phil&Laury posted this on 8/14/11 at 1:22 p.m. . I really hope they keep it. I really love the fact that I do NOT have to spend 2 hours a week in the grocery store! Well worth the $8. Sandi posted this on 8/13/11 at 11:40 a.m

Decaturs fourth and fifth graders all under one roof

All that liberal hypocrisy is the reason I pulled my children out of City of Decatur Schools and moved out of state. I was tired of them being social experiments from aged exhippies. Thompson posted this on 8/9/11 at 11:20 p.m. I visited the school during my 5th graders open house, and they have done a great job! The old 4/5 academy did not have a gym or cafeteria really and now the kids have great new facilities. What an improvement! All the classrooms have lots of natural light, and the parking is so much better too. Thanks Decatur! Emily posted this on 8/9/11 at 11:40 a.m.

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Local News

Page 7A

by Gale Horton Gay

is a narrative steeped in dramatic highs and lows as well as daunting challenges. WASHINGTON,D.C.TheMartin Jackson delights in telling how brothers LutherKingJr.NationalMemorialonthe of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity were havNationalMallinWashington,D.C.,willbe ing a casual conversation in 1984 in Silver dedicatedonAug.28afteradecades-long Spring, Md., about the lack of African struggle.ExecutiveArchitectEdJackson Americans visiting the National Mall and Jr.andCongressmanJohnLewisshare the lack of a historic venue on the mall of theirthoughtsaboutwhattheconclusionof particular interest to them. They came up thisprojectmeanstothem. with the idea of a memorial to their frat brother Martin Luther King Jr. and for Executive Architect Ed Jackson Jr., years lobbied leaders on Capitol Hill for Ph.D. support, according to Jackson. On Nov. 12, 1996, President Bill ClinIn several weeks when the masses gath- ton signed congressional legislation proer for the official dedication of the Martin posing the establishment of a memorial in Luther King Jr. National Memorial, most Washington, D.C., honoring King. will likely have immediate reactions to the While close supporters of the project larger-than-life sculptures, the semi-circular initially talked about it costing $2 million, wall of quotes, the water features and land- Jackson said he knew better and at one scaping. point projected it at $100 million. The final Ed Jackson Jr., the executive architect tally is $120 million. on the project, expects that on that day he In addition to fundraising (everything may finally come to terms with what his from corporate gifts, individual donations, work for the past 15 years has really meant. requests for stock and the sale of wrist But asking Jackson to provide an anbands and pins has brought in $114 milswer today brings a chuckle and a wry lion), challenges and controversies have smile. hampered the project. Its not finished, said Jackson Following an international design In the final weeks of the project, Jackcompetition that drew 900 entries from son, his staff, contractors and ancillary 52 countries, Roma Design Group of San workers are buttoning up a long list Francisco was selected. The committee, acof small things that needs attention. In cording to Jackson, was moved by Romas fact, on a near 100-degree day in mid-July, concept of having Kings stone of hope workers were applying sealant to granite image emerging from a split mountain of walkways, installing benches and complet- despair. ing the gift shop at the main entrance of the Next came the selection of a sculpmemorial. tor. After cultivating a list of artisans from I dont think we can take a deep breath Mexico, Germany, Japan, Zimbabwe, until the punch list is completed, said China, Egypt and Finland and even travelJackson. Thats the moment we can exing to Italy to visit one, officials found a hale. stone carvers symposium in Minnesota Jackson, whose job it is to provide where each sculptor they talked to referred management and continuity of the design them to one manLei Yixin. After lookand construction processes from beginning ing through a hardbound book of his work, to end, has a deeper understanding of what Jackson said he knew they were onto someit has taken to bring the memorial the first thing. on the National Mall to an African American to reality. See MLK on Page 11A How the memorial project came to be

Behind the building of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial

Mary K. Jarboe
materials, planning events and working on new collections for the center as a member of the archive committee. Jarboe said her major goal as a volunteer and a board member is to help preserve the rich history of DeKalb County. When she first became a volunteer she enjoyed filing and interacting with the visitors, she said. That led her to work on special events such as the Decatur Book Festival and local art festivals. As a board member, she is responsible for overseeing the financial stability of the organization, helping increase the membership base and also helping with events and other special projects. She has done a fantastic job getting our membership numbers up. She is an ideal board member [and] always willing to help, said executive director Melissa Forgey. For two years Jarboe has served as a board liaison, instructing the students of Emory Universitys Roberto C. Goizueta Business School. I met with students and taught them about the history center. This year they worked on a project focusing on increasing membership [in non-profits], Jarboe said

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When Mary K. Jarboe retired in 2002, she began searching for volunteer work and she found the DeKalb History Center (DHC). She is currently serving as secretary on the DHC board. I am really glad she is here, said archivist Jill Sweetapple. Right now she is working on archiving deeds from the 1920s and the 1930s that came from the Pythagoras Building. [Jarboe] unfolded deeds from 14 boxes and prepared them to be categorized. Jarboe has been working on the project for four months and usually volunteers once a week, Sweetapple said. The DeKalb History Center was formerly established as the DeKalb Historical Society in 1947. The DHC is the only organization dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing the rich history of DeKalb County. Jarboes duties as a volunteer have included building the website for the center, getting

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Task force wants to reduce animal euthanizations

by Andrew Cauthen andrew@dekalbchamp.com Of the 25,600 animals taken in by the DeKalb County Animal Services and Enforcement Division from 2008-10, approximately 15,600, or 61 percent, were euthanized. Sixty-one percent is high no matter what you measure that against, said Susan Neugent, chairwoman of the countys animal services task force, formed to reduce the numbers of euthanized healthy or treatable animals and implement strategies that will improve quality of life for animals. During its review of existing practices in the county animal services division, the task force has also found that 8 percent of the animals brought into the shelter were reclaimed by owners, 9 percent were adopted, 10 percent taken by animal rescue organizations and 9 percent unaccounted for. The low number reclaimed possibly reflects part of the economic reality that we live in today, Neugent said. We all are aware that there are more animals being abandoned by their owners, Neugent said. Were trying to dig into that number. Weve got numbers that are too high and numbers that are too low and were trying to reverse animals that are not acclimated. In addition to the lack of air-conditioning, the shelter is smelly, has problems with rats and other pests, and needs more space to handle the number of animals taken in. The facility is in bad condition, Neugent said. It is not conducive for people visiting. On the positive side, the county leads the state by having a dedicated animal control officer; and the shelter has begun an effective feral cat neutering program. That should reduce the number of cats picked up and held and euthanized, Neugent said. The initials findings will be the framework for the task forces recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. The task force has been studying ways to promote good choices by pet owners; restructure DeKalb Animal Services; enhance and develop new collaborations between agencies, non-profit organizations and concerned residents; improve enforcement tools and practices; and enhance facilities used to institutionally house or manage pets in DeKalb County. Were still in the middle of our deliberations, Neugent said. The task force is expected to make its recommendations to the countys Board of Commissioners in October.

Local News

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them. A task force representative said there are an estimated 365,000 pets in DeKalb County. Among the findings, presented at public meetings this month to update residents on initial findings regarding policies, operational procedures and facilities, the task force learned that the shelter experiences dangerous fluctuations in temperature. The temperature has been in excess of 95 degrees, Neugent said. According to animal protection rules by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the ambient temperatures should not be allowed to fall below 45 degrees or rise above 85 degrees for

Commissioners pass new regulations Standoff ends in killing of suspect for personal care homes
by Andrew Cauthen andrew@dekalbchamp.com DeKalb County officials hope a change in its ordinance will cut down on the number of personal care homes in residential areas. There is an overabundance of personal care homes in south DeKalb, said Commissioner Larry Johnson. I have two or three on my street as well. A personal care home, sometimes called assisted living or residential care facility, is a facility that provides personal care services for unrelated residents who are not bedridden. These facilities may serve senior citizens or persons with alcohol or drug abuse problems, mental illnesses, or physical disabilities. In addition to the number of personal care homes in residential areas, residents have complained about the number of clients in the homes. The problem was that personal care homes were allowed to have up to six clients just outright in a residential community without ever having to come to this board to get approval, said Commissioner Lee May. According to the new regulations, personal care homes and childcare institutions with one to three residents would be allowed in single-family and multi-family neighborhoods. To have a facility with four to six residents in single-family zones a special land use permit must be granted by the Board of Commissioners, according to the ordinance. The community can have public comment regarding each and every application, May said. This board will have the ability to vote it up or down whether we want to have that personal care home in the community. Personal care and childcare facilities serving seven or more people would be allowed only in commercial districts. Any personal care home that already has a license and a permit would be grandfathered, said Andrew Baker, the countys interim director for planning and sustainability. Im sure that it wont alleviate all of the issues that we are having in our neighborhoods, but its actually a step in the right direction, Baker said. Johnson personally championed the new regulations. He said the county could only address part of the problem with the personal care homes. Our job is to look at the zoning requirements, Johnson said. The states job is to make sure they have the critical staff and get the license to actually do it. Were just a piece in the puzzle. We still have a long way to go. The ordinance requires that all operators be licensed by the states Department of Human Resources. These operators must own and reside in the facility, obtain fire and electrical inspections and obtain a business license. In 2004, the Board of Commissioners passed a resolution asking the state to pass tighter regulations for workers in personal care homes. By Robert Naddra robert@dekalb champ.com A DeKalb County police officer shot and killed a man Aug. 12 after an eight-hour standoff in a south DeKalb neighborhood off Boring Road, police said. At about 9 a.m. that day the man had shot at a neighbor, who called 911, according to police spokeswoman Mekka Parish. The neighbor was unharmed. When police officers arrived at the home at 3543 Warbler Drive, the suspect began firing. A SWAT unit was called to the scene as residents close to the home were evacuated and access to the neighborhood was restricted. Also, Bob Mathis and Rainbow elementary schools, and Southwest DeKalb High School were locked down until the end of the school day, Parish said. The suspect continued to fire shots at police throughout the standoff. After peaceful attempts to resolve the incident failed, tear gas was launched into the mans home. After an encounter with a member of the SWAT team, the suspect was shot and killed, Parish said. The suspects name had not been released by press deadline.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Lithonia developing blueprint for future

by Andrew Cauthen andrew@dekalbchamp.com When John Robins and his wife moved to Lithonia in 1969 there was mostly farmland between the city and the interstate. Its a small town, said Robins, who was the citys mayor from 1986-88. When we moved out here, it was a very small town. During the 1950s, there was not much city planning in Lithonia. So things got done that should not have, Robins said. The granite railroad depot was torn down. The old Baptist church was demolished, along with several houses. Terrible changes were made to buildings, Robins said. Things happened that shouldnt have happened. But it is the Lithonia Plaza, located in the heart of the city, that is the symbol of the past planning mistakes and future rebirth of Lithonia. At one time, before the 1960s, instead of the plaza there was a street grid with several buildings including a fire station, churches and the train depot. Apparently the city got some funding for an urban renewal, said Deborah Jackson, a Litho-

Local News

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The partially vacant Lithonia Plaza, in the heart of downtown Lithonia, is where many residents hope revitalization will begin in the city. Local leaders are in the process of making plans they hope will turn into to change for town founded on the granite industry a century ago. Photo by Andrew Cauthen

nia City Council member. People were very upset about the buildings that were torn down. There are still people in Lithonia who are upset with the changes from the 1960s. Now the plaza is home to a Wayfield Foods grocery store and several retail stores. Part of the plaza is owned by the city of Lithonia and contains vacant, rundown buildings. Established in 1856, Lithonia was a major economic engine in the county due to the large deposits of granite in the area. The city, which contains about 540 acres and is about one-sixth the size of Stone Mountain Park, has a rich and often-overlooked history. It is the site of the first Black church in DeKalb Countythe

Antioch Lithonia Baptist Church, which was established in 1869. First housed in a residents home, DeKalbs first public library was set up in Lithonia in 1907. Later it was moved to the Lithonia Womens Club in 1928. The Bruce Street School in Lithonia was the first school for Blacks in the county. Now Lithonia, with the aid of the Georgia Conservancy, is undergoing what Robins called the first serious planning weve had in many years. Katherine Moore, of the Georgia Conservancy, is the program manager of the Blueprints for Successful Communities program. Her job is to work with communities to help them tackle some of their development, rede-

velopment, greenspace and transportation issues. The Georgia Conservancy will dig a little deeper and build on the recommendations of previous plans while taking into consideration current economic conditions. The difference between past plans and the Blueprints plan is the level of specificity and consideration of market conditions, Moore said. What were going to do is look at special zoning recommendations and develop renderings that can be a marketing package to get developers in the downtown core, Moore said. The Blueprints work is not the first plan for Lithonia in recent years. In 2003, there was a Livable Cities Initiative plan. In 2005, the Arabian Mountain Area management plan addressed some issues in Lithonia. And last year, the city completed the 20102026 Comprehensive Plan update which is required by the states Department of Community Affairs. Blueprints is a strategy to implement the comprehensive plan, Jackson said. The Blueprint gets
See Lithonia on Page 10A

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF ELECTION DECATUR CITY COMMISSION AND DECATUR BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Decatur City Commission officially announces the Call for the City's General Election to be held in the City of Decatur, Georgia, on November 8, 2011 for two Decatur Board of Education members for four year terms of office, and three City of Decatur Commissioners for four year terms, such terms to begin at the organizational meeting in January 2012. One City Commissioner from Election District 1, Post B One City Commissioner from Election District 2, Post B One City Commissioner at large One Decatur Board of Education member from Election District 1, Post B One Decatur Board of Education member from Election District 2, Post B DeKalb County will conduct this election at the following proposed precincts: Election District District : Polling Place for Election Clairemont East 1 : First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Ave Clairemont West 1 : Lutheran Church of Messiah, 465 Clairemont Ave. Glenwood Precinct 1 : Holy Trinity Parish, 515 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. Oakhurst 2 : Oakhurst Baptist Church, 222 E. Lake Dr. Ponce De Leon 1&2 : First Christain Church of Decatur, 601 W. Ponce de Leon Ave Renfroe 2 : Renfroe Middle School, 220 W. College Ave. Winnona Park 2 : Winnona Park Elementary School, 510 Avery St. Each candidate will file notice of his or her candidacy and the appropriate affidavit in the office of the Election Superintendent at City Hall, 509 North McDonough Street, Decatur, Georgia. The opening dates for qualifying will start Monday, August 29, 2011 beginning at 8:30 A. M., and continuing until Friday, September 2, 2011 at 4:30 P.M. The qualifying fee for City Commission office is $144.00 and the qualifying fee for Board of Education members is $35.00 Registration for voting in the November 8, 2011 election will close Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Early/Advance Absentee Voting in person begins October 17, 2011 at the DeKalb County Voter Registration Office, 4380 Memorial Dr., Ste. 300, Decatur, Georgia, and Monday through Friday between 8:30 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. through Friday, November 4. The Absentee Poll will not be open on Monday, November 7. Questions concerning absentee voting, early voting or voter registration should be directed to DeKalb County Elections Division at 404298-4020. The Decatur City Commission gives notice this July 18, 2011.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Local News

Page 10A

The Lithonia Plaza (left), built in the 1960s, stands in contrast to the original structures, such as the Lithonia Methodist Church, made from local granite. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

Lithonia Continued From Page 9A

more specific and focuses on the town core. In the first Blueprints meeting, people mentioned that they dont want this sitting on a shelf collecting dust, Robins said. Blueprints $50,000 price tag was paid by funds from a community development block grant, the Arabia Mountain Heritage Alliance and the city of Lithonia. The work has already begun behind the scenes. For months, the Georgia Conservancy has been collecting data. A sidewalk inventory is in progress to determine the citys connectivity, and workers are looking at the quality of housing in Lithonia to determine which houses and neighborhoods are in good repair. There is one central question of the Blueprints process: How do we recapture the sense of community? Jackson said. The city is one of the cultural gateways to the Arabia National Heritage Area, Jackson said. We want the city to realize its goal. We need Lithonia to catch up and get in place. Although there is some significant development in the Lithonia area, some of it is unwanted. Weve had our battles, Robins said, citing the areas landfills and heavy commercial district. And for several months, Lithonia residents have been protesting a proposed facility that would convert yard waste into renewable natural gas using a process called gasification. Residents say the plant would add to the environmental racism the area has been subjected to. Finally this part of DeKalb County has gotten developed, Robins said. But weve got things out there we dont particularly want. The Blueprints plan is a chance for residents to take control of Lithonias future. I hope people take advantage of having some say in what the future of the town is going to be, Robins said.

Enroll.
Choose from over 100 career paths $75 per credit hour Apply by July 19th for Fall Semester

DeKalb Technical College 404-297-9522 www.dekalbtech.edu

The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

MLK Continued From Page 7A

However criticism began to fly about why officials selected a Chinese sculptor, and when an image of one of the sculptors models of King appeared in a newspaper some people complained that Kings eyes appeared slanted. Jackson shows a reporter the model that drew that ire, demonstrating that when the sculpture is looked at from the ground looking up (the way visitors will view it) the eyes do not appear slanted. He credits the sculptors expertise with understanding perspective. Another objection (about whether Kings facial expression was too stern) was settled when two of Kings children Martin Luther King III and Bernice King were asked to pick among four models the expression they remembered most. They chose the first one the sculptor initially created. The memorial sits on a four-acre site along Independence Avenue between 17th and 23rd streets. On a 450foot semi-circular wall 14 of Kings quotes from speeches and writings are engraved. The site is landscaped with 182 cherry trees, water features, benches and lighting. Integrated throughout the memorial are the themes: justice, democracy, hope and love. Jackson emphasizes that the site is a living memorial where people can come for reflection and depart inspired to carry on Kings vision. Asked how he hopes the memorial will affect visitors, Jackson said, I hope that they come here and they realize that Dr. King was an individual who spoke about humanity and the importance of being civil. He added that he hopes that by reading the words you make them a part of yourself. Congressman John Lewis Long before he became a fighter on many fronts in the halls of Congress, John Lewis was in the trenches of the Civil Rights Movement, working and marching hand in hand with Martin Luther King Jr. Lewis, who endured beatings and jail during the tumultuous 1960s, was one of the planners and speakers of the August 1963 March on Washington. Decades later, Lewis would co-author the legislation authorizing the King Memorial. In 2007 Lewis and fellow Congressman Hank Johnson toured Stone Mountain granite quarries to explore potential stone for the memorial. However granite was selected from Minnesota, Canada and China. The opening of The King Memorial is a powerful moment in our history, said Lewis in an e-mailed statement. Kings statue sits in the crossroads of the memorials to three of our greatest presidents Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. But this one man, who was never elected to any public office, did what these great leaders could not do. He challenged this nation to confront the truth that freedom reserved for

Local News
some and oppression reserved for others is a threat to our national integrity with enough power to extinguish the light of democracy. In 13 short years he helped bring healing to a conflict that had troubled this nation for centuries. The placement of Martin Luther King Jr. on the National Mall, in what I like to call the front yard of America, demonstrates the power of ordinary people with extraordinary vision to transform a nation and the power of non-violent action to resolve the most difficult problems of humankind.

Page 11A

Ed Jackson, executive architect on the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, has been working on the project for 15 years. Photo by Gale Horton Gay

DeKalb County Wants to Hear From You Regarding the Proposed Franchise Agreement Renewal with Comcast Cable Communications
Send your comments and/or concerns regarding Comcasts current performance under the current franchise agreement and/or the future cable-related needs and interests of your community to cable@co.dekalb.ga.us.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Page 12A

Emory paleontologist unearths rare dinosaur tracks

by Daniel Beauregard daniel@dekalbchamp.com During the third week of a month-long excursion, Emory Paleontologist Anthony Martin was walking along an Australian coastline when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. At first we were finding these small invertebrate burrows that were probably made by insects and I got excited because it meant the environment was formerly a flood plain, which is a great place to find dinosaur tracks, Martin said. About an hour later Martin was lagging behind the rest of his team when he came across two large sandstone boulders. I saw something on the rock that got my attention. I wasnt sure why I stopped but I looked at it more carefully and thats when I saw the first track, Martin said. The tracks were found on the rocky shoreline of Milanesia Beach, a remote area in Otways National Park. The area, west of Melbourne, consists of layers of sediment accumulated over millions of years and riddled with fractures and pounded by waves. The cliffs occasionally shed large chunks of rock, such as the ones containing the dinosaur tracks. The discovery, reported in the journal Alcheringa, is described as the largest and best collection of polar dinosaur tracks ever found in the Southern Hemisphere. I already knew the significance of it because dinosaur tracks up until that moment were very rare from that part of Australia It was one of those wonderful eureka moments that we paleontologists live for, Martin said. The research team also included Thomas Rich, from the Museum of Victoria; Michael Hall and Patricia Vickers-Rich, both from the School of Geosciences at Monash University in Victoria; and Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec, an ecologist and expert in spatial analysis from Emorys Department of Environmental Studies. Martin said, like any good scientist as soon as he made the discovery he sat down and began describing and measuring what he saw. Upon closer inspection, Martin concluded that they were the natural impressions of dinosaur feet stepped into wet sediment on a river flood plain. The three-toed dinosaur tracks that Martin and his team had discovered were from the early cretaceous period and belonged to three different sizes of small theropodsa group of bipedal, mostly carnivorous dinosaurslike the little ones referred to as compys in Jurassic Park:TheLost World. These were probably carnivorous. Most theropods were carnivorous and these ranged between the years ago, Australia was a much different place. During the early cretaceous period, Australia was still connected to Antarctica and the location where the tracks were found was very close to the South Pole. It was much warmer then, lush forests stretched all the way to the poles and the animals on the continent experienced four to five months of total darkness each year. Martin, who has been teaching at Emory for more than 21 years, said that Thomas Rich first approached him about the possibility of putting together a team to look for trace fossilsspecifically dinosaur burrowson the Victoria coast. I also knew that we would find a lot more than those. He and Emory found some funding for me and we spent about a month walking [the] Victoria coastline, Martin said. According to Martin, discoveries like the one he and his team made, can help scientists today understand how certain species of animals adapted to the last period of pronounced global warming. These kinds of fossils can tell us how these dinosaurs were behaving seasonally because these tracks were probably made during a polar spring and summer. So, fossils like these can give us more information about how these animals were behaving and a little bit about their ecology, Martin said. Ill say this is one of the biggest discoveries; I hate to rank them though because we really wont know until 50 years from now, he said.

Emory paleontologist Anthony Martin sits atop one of the sandstone slabs he discovered. They contain the largest and best collection of polar dinosaur tracks ever found in the Southern Hemisphere. Photo provided

sizes of a chicken to the size of the sandhill crane, a bird commonly found in Georgia, Martin said. At the time that the dinosaurs left the tracks, approximately 105 million

AROUND
ATLANTA
Dine & Dance returns to Northlake Mall
There will be swinging and swaying in Northlake Malls Food Garden Tuesday, Aug. 30, 6-8 p.m., as Northlake Malls monthly Big Band event with the Atlanta-New York Connection returns. Held the last Tuesday night of every month, this social affair is free and open to the public. Visitors are urged to come early and have dinner before dancing the night away. Northlake Mall is located at 4800 Briarcliff Road, N.E., Atlanta. For more information, call (770) 938-3564.

DEKALB
of other ingredients that make them among American cinemas best: great music, striking visuals, interesting storytelling, and complex character types, Schreiber said. Emory Cinematheque, a collaboration between Emory College and the Department of Film and Media Studies, is one of the few film series bringing 35mm repertory programming to the Southeast. In addition, the film department hosts special screenings and lectures by international filmmakers, scholars, and critics. For the full Cinematheque fall series and other Emory film events, visit filmstudies.emory.edu.

Emory offers film noir series

The Emory Cinematheque Series presents Dark Streets and Dangerous Dames: Film Noir (19441996) for its weekly 35mm screenings this fall. The series opens Aug. 31 with the 1947 classic Out of the Past starring Robert Mitchum. Other titles include Double Indemnity (1944), Chinatown (1974), and Pulp Fiction (1994). The free screenings are held every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on the Emory campus in White Hall 205. The series curator, Emory assistant professor Michele Schreiber, said film noir never ceases to fascinate audiences. These films are unique in their dark and pessimistic depiction of American culturea rarity in the classical Hollywood periodand contain a host

AVONDALE ESTATES
Free workshop series returns
Finders Keepers Furnishings at 2753 E. College Ave. recently announced the return of its free workshop series. These workshops are held each Saturday morning and begin at 9:30 a.m. Coming up on Saturday, Aug. 20, is Suellen Germani with Creative Order: Redesigning Your Empty Nest After The Kids Are Gone. This workshop will talk about redesigning and re-purposing the space in your home after your children leave the nest for school and other life adventures. Workshop leaders will also discuss coping mechanisms to help with the feelings associated with empty nest syndrome. The workshop starts at 9:30 a.m.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Business

Page 14A

Couple stop on DeKalb thoroughfare on quest for fuel efficiency record

by Kathy Mitchell British couple John and Helen Taylor already hold 88 world records, including 38 for fuel efficiency. Their quest for another onefor fuel efficiency driving across the 48 contiguous United Statesbrought them to a Shell station on Candler Road early the morning of Aug. 8. Although the stop was at 6:30 a.m. the station was packed with people who had come to hear the couples consumer tips and receive a Smarter Driving Kit that included a $15 Shell gift card. One way to save fuel is to slow down, Helen said. Of course, no one exceeds the speed limit here in the United States. John then asked a woman in the crowd if he could borrow her eyeglasses. If Helen has never seen anyone speed in the United States, she needs these more than you do, he told the woman. With the Candler Road stop, the Taylors were one third of the way toward completing the mission, which involves traveling through each of the 48 contiguous states. Weve covered 17 states now, said Helen, who added that the trip is going just great. She said she has had a passion for fuel efficiency since found herself faced with getting to a job interview in a car with the fuel light on and 79 cents in her pocket. By making careful choices she made itand got the job. Shell, which sponsored the Taylors in 2006 as they set a world record for fuel efficiency, driving 18,470 miles over 78 days, across 25 countries, using 24 tanks of fuel and averaging 52.3 miles per gallon, is the sponsor for the current venture. accelerating or braking too hard and try to keep your steering as smooth as possible. Use higher gears. The higher the gear you drive in the lower your engine speed is, which can improve fuel efficiency. So change up a gear whenever you can, without laboring the engine Tune and service your engine. A well-tuned engine can improve fuel economy by up to 4 percent, so change your oil and follow your car manufacturers recommendation on servicing. Keep your tires at the right pressure. Correctly inflated tires are safer and last longer. A tire that is under inflated by just 1 psi can reduce John and Helen Taylor check their fuel efficiency by as much as 3 pervehicle before continuing their crosscent. An under- or over-inflated tire is country journey after filling up at a also more susceptible to failing. Shell station on Candler Road. Avoid carrying excess weight. The Taylors and Shell are teaming up For every extra 100 pounds you carry once again to set another lowest fuel your fuel efficiency can drop by 1-2 consumption record while driving ex- percent. So keep your boot or back clusively with Shell nitrogen-enriched seat clear of unnecessary items that gasolines along their route. just add weight to your vehicle. Shell and the Taylors say any Remove the roof rack. If youre driver can use their techniques to im- not using your roof rack, then remove prove fuel efficiency. They call it the it. They affect the aerodynamic efMAP to smarter driving, which is an ficiency of vehicles and create drag, acronym for: reducing fuel economy by as much as Maintenance: Perform smart 5 percent. maintenance before you drive. Use the correct oil. Always use Actions: Practice smart behaviors the recommended grade of motor while youre behind the wheel. oil. Using the manufacturers recomProducts: Purchase smart prodmended lubricant can improve fuel efucts and services at the right price ficiency by 1-2 percent. Higher qualwithoutsacrificing quality. ity motor oils can help your engine Over the years, the Taylors have operate more efficiently. developed a long list of fuel efficiency Fuel matters. All fuels are not tips. Here are some of them: created equal. Fuel economy is Drive smoothly. Aggressive maximized in the engine through a driving can use as much as a third combination of good driving habits more fuel than safe driving. Avoid and using the right fuelone that helps reduce friction and improves cleanliness in the engine, thereby improving fuel efficiency. Avoid excess idling. Idling gets you nowhere but still burns fuel. Turn the engine off when youre in a line, or waiting for someone, until you need it. Plan trips carefully. Cutting down on the time spent in the car is the easiest way to conserve fuel. To reduce driving time, combine all your short trips and errands into a single journey. Avoid over revving. Change gears prudently when youre accelerating. Never redline the rev counter. Keep your distance. Leave a sensible distance between yourself and the car ahead to give you ample time to brake safely. Avoid high speeds. The faster you go, the more wind resistance youll encounter and the more fuel your vehicle will consume just to maintain speed. Driving just 5 mph over the speed limit can affect fuel economy by up to 23 percent. Use air conditioning sparingly. Air conditioning puts added strain on the engine and uses fuel to operate, so limit use to particularly hot or cold days. When possible use the fan instead. Ensure your fuel cap is air tight. Fuel evaporates every time you open the fuel cap. To stop this, make larger fill-ups as opposed to repeatedly topping off your tank. Keep calm. When youre not calm, youre more likely to make errors of judgment. Fuel efficiency is all about smoothness, and keeping calm is absolutely crucial to achieving best fuel economy results.

Bates named to energy education position CLAriFiCATion So many reasons to

The City of Doraville has issued an RFP for the turnkey installation of In response to the Georgia locally focused ing and educational/career a solar PV system for the Lively Power recently guidance and as- awareness events. a r t i c l e o n P u b l i x s Public Safety Bldg, an 18,667 announced the sistance Center curbside service that 100 Crescentwhile Pkwy.,A focus on science, GA 30084 (404) 378-8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org Suite 680. Tucker, square foot facility, which houses selection of Betsy partnering with technology, engineering and appeared on page 17A the police dept./ detention Bates as the enarea schools to math (STEM) subjects in of the Aug. 11 issue center. The facility has a south ergy education develop classGeorgia schools will also of The Champion facing, standing seem metal roof. coordinator in room experienc- be emphasized, as well as Newspaper and the It is located at 3750 Park Avenue. Georgia Poweres for children awareness around careers in This is a U.S. Dept. of Energy grant Aug. 12 issue of The served schools that highlight the the electric utility industry. project (EECBG) funded through Champion Free Press, in DeKalb, Fulcrucial role enThe program is designed to the American Recovery & 100 Crescent Center Pkwy., Suite 680. Tucker,create well-informed GA 30084 (404) 378-8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org Brenda reid, Publix ton, Newton and ergy plays in our help Reinvestment Act. A bid regional media and Rockdale coundaily lives. future energy purchasers conference will be held at 2:00 community relations ties. Beginning and cover topics relevant to Betsy Bates PM, 8/25/11 at City Hall (3725 manager, stated that I am pleased this fall, Bates the industry. Park Avenue). Proposals are due to welcome Betsy to our will work with third-, fifthA graduate of the UniPublix is not considering on or before 12:00 PM, 9/6/11. team of nearly a dozen and eighth-grade students versity of Georgia with a discontinuing curbside For conditions, specifications and education coordinators in local school systems to Bachelor of Arts in jourservice and is currently additional details, download the around the state, said Amy deliver 100 Crescent Center Pkwy., Suite 680. Tucker,her 30084 energy efficiency nalism, Betsy received GA evaluating whether it Proposal Manual at Hutchins, Georgia Powers messages through in-class Master www.DeKalbChamber.org expand the service of Education in sciwill 404-378-8000 www.doravillega.us or call the education and training man- field trips, using hands-on ence from Samford Univerto other locations. City Clerks Office at ager. Betsy will provide activities, Web-based learn- sity. (770) 4518745.

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Education

Page 15A

Cross Keys High offers engineering and IT classes for DeKalb Schools

Engineering teacher Patrick Gunter points to a computer that controls the robotic arms at Cross Keys and holds up a bearing casing to show students.

A robotic car built by Cross Keys High School students.

tudents crowded around as teacher Patrick Gunter flipped the switch to an air compressor, which started up with a loud hum. Suddenly, a metal arm on the nearest table began to move. These are industry standard based machines, Gunter said. These are all real world types of applications and there are a lot of industries that cant find enough people qualified. At Cross Keys High School, the DeKalb School System is working closely with The Cross Keys Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps students enrolled in the high schools attendance zone, to implement two new programs. The programsone in manufacturing and one in information technology will also be available to students from Dunwoody, Tucker, Chamblee, Lakeside, Clarkston, Druid Hills and Stone Mountain high schools. These kids are going to be writing programs to control robotics on manufacturing lines and assembly lines and theyve just installed four robotic arms at Cross Keys, foundation president Kim Gocke said. Gocke said it was the foundations goal to help young people see the limitless opportunities in manufacturing and internet tech-

by Daniel Beauregard daniel@dekalbchamp.com

nology by giving them the knowledge and real-world experience they need for success in the burgeoning field. DeKalb County Schools has hired Gunter, a National Board Certified Teacher to teach the manufacturing program, which includes courses in material science, robotics and automated systems. One of my fortes is program development and Ive been teaching for 23 years. So, I do a lot of this and I start programs and get them [going], Gunter said. Gunter will also be the coach for a planned solar car team and two robotics teams that will operate out of the school. Next summer, he will lead a high school solar car team to compete in the Solar Car Challenge, a 1,600-mile race from Dallas to Los Angeles. During the first week of class, Gunter said he had quickly put his students to work on various classroom projects, including an area for robotic competitions.

he said students will have the opportunity to get a head start on what is happening in the real world. Weve got to have a different mindset to train the people to fill the jobs in our society today. Youre seeing so many people that have gone to college and theyll get out and have a masters degree but they cant find a job, he said. Additionally, Gunter and his students will deliver Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) workshops to area fourth and fifth graders. He also plans to launch a county-wide inventors fair for grades four through 12 with each of the first, second and third place winners receiving trophies and cash prizes. The invention judged to be the most patentable will earn the inventor a patent attorneys services pro bono. Students enrolled in the information technology program will learn the fundamentals of enterprise inforIt doesnt look like it mation technology, advanced but youre looking at about web design and animation. $60,000 worth of equipThe students will also particiment, Gunter said, pointing pate in a year-long project to to the four new robotic arms deliver a software solution to and what would soon bean area non-profit. come the new robotics arena Our goal was to bring to that students were building. that platform a really ber IT Gunter, who also builds program, Gocke said. solar houses and electric cars, By the spring semester, said that throughout the year, internships involving both the students would be writprograms will be awarded ing programs to control and to those students who have operate a connected robotics excelled. system. With this experience,

Agnes Scott ranked one of top schools with Best Quality of Life
According to students surveyed by ThePrincetonReview, Agnes Scott College has one of the best qualities of life in the country. For the second year in a row, the college was No. 10 on The PrincetonReviews Best Quality of Life ranking. The college also was again included in the guides Best 376 Colleges list. According to ThePrincetonReviews student surveys, Agnes Scott boasts a great location, gorgeous campus and superb academics.

Emory remains among top 10 Teach for America contributors

Emory is 10th nationally among medium-sized universities contributing the greatest number of recent Teach for America graduates. For the past four years, Emory has ranked among the top contributing colleges and universities of its size. Nearly 11 percent of Emorys graduating seniors applied to Teach for America this year and 37 of them will now be teaching in urban and rural schools across the country. Throughout Teach for Americas 20-year history, more than 280 Emory alumni have taught as corps members.

Avondale Elementary seeks tutors

Avondale Elementary School is seeking volunteers to tutor students. The school has approximately 230 more students this year from a result of redistricting that occurred in March 2011. Contact School Counselor Tanika Henry at (678) 676-5216 or Tanika_L_Henry@fc.dekalb.k12. ga.us if interested. The school is located at 10 Lakeshore Drive in Avondale Estates.

Page 16A

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

M.L. King-Stephenson

Sports

Page 17A

Top rivalries
DeKalb County has had many intriguing football rivalries over the years. Heres a quick glimpse of a few, past and present: M.L. King-Stephenson: The game has decided the Region 2-AAAAA champion for each of the past four seasons, with each team winning twice. The Jaguars hold a 3-2 advantage. Tucker-Lakeside: Lots of interest in the community despite being one-sided through most of its 44-game history. Tucker, which trails in the series 22-21-1, owns a current 10-game winning streak. From 1970-92, Lakeside held a 20-5-1 advantage. Marist-St. Pius: One of the longest uninterrupted rivalries in the state until reclassification put a temporary end to the series in 2009. The two private schools played every year since 1962, with Marist leading 30-15-2. Stephenson-Redan: A heated rivalry despite a 10-2 advantage by Stephenson that was put on hiatus after reclassification in 2009. Decatur-Avondale: The two schools less than 3 miles apart began their rivalry in 1958 and played 35 times before Avondale closed last spring. Decatur held a 26-9 advantage.

Community rivalries make big impression in county

by Robert Naddra robert@dekalbchamp.com the kids played in the same rec league and in middle school, so that adds to it. Tucker coach Franklin Stephens learned Ron Gartrell gets a call every fall from from alumni and community members of the his mother, reminding him that the big importance and history of the Lakeside game game is just a few days away. before he learned his new players names. The Stephenson football coach isnt getThe teams have played 44 times since ting a heads up about his teams annual show- 1966 with Tucker holding a 22-21-1 edge. down against M.L. King. Instead, its notice The Tigers have won 10 straight and have about the Class A showdown between Lincoln shut out the Vikings five times in that span. County and Washington-Wilkes, where GarThe community and alumni still get retrell went to high school and later served as an ally excited about it, but we have to keep the assistant coach. kids focused on it, Stephens said. We try to Thirty-four years after he graduated from get the kids to understand that records dont the rural east Georgia school, Gartrell still matter in a game like that. Even though weve checks the newspaper for details of the game had the better team lately, [Lakeside] gets reevery year. The series began in 1970. ally jacked up and they want to beat you. I still get chill bumps when I look in the Tuckers game against Marist has created paper and see that they played, Gartrell said. frenzy on both sides in recent years. Tucker Everybody shuts down everything in both leads the series 12-8 and the teams met in the towns when those two teams play. We havent 2008 AAAA state championship game, with been in a rivalry like that here. the Tigers taking the win. The Stephenson-M.L. King game is a Stephens, like Gartrell, has experience different kind of rivalry, forged because the with rural county rivalries. He was an assistwo teams are in the same region and both tant at AAAAA power Camden County before have become two of the top teams in Class coming to Tucker. There, he was part of a big AAAAA. rivalry against Class A power Charlton CounTheres no animosity, but theres not a ty. As a student, he attended and played footbigger game for either school than that game, ball at Burke County in east Georgia, whose Gartrell said. It has added importance bebig rival was Thomson. cause it usually determines who wins the reIts a different situation up here because gion. these are community rivalries, Stephens said. The game, which is now the final game The players and people in the community of the regular season, has decided the region know each other and see each other all the champion for the past four seasons. M.L. time. In some of the county rivalries, the only King won it in 2007 and 2010, with Stephentime they see each other is on game night. I son winning the two years in between. think it makes it a more intensive situation The success of the two schools makes it this way. that much more intriguing, M.L. King coach While Stephens hasnt seen any evidence Mike Carson said. For that last game to of pranking in the series with Lakeside or mean so much is critical. The biggest thing is Marist, Gartrell said he can remember some that were in the same region and it usually pranks being pulled by Redan. One year, he determines the region champion. said, some Redan supporters painted StephenThere are other community rivalries in the sons practice field blue and silver (the Raidcounty that carry weight regardless of records. ers colors). They also painted words that I Lakeside-Tucker, Stephenson-Redan (now cant say on the field, according to Gartrell. on hiatus), Marist-Tucker, Columbia-Cedar We played them for 10 years straight Grove and private-school showdown Maristand it became such a good rivalry because St. Pius (also on hiatus) are just a few. the schools are so close and all the kids knew We earmark that game on our schedule, each other from park ball, Gartrell said. Columbia coach Mario Allen said of the Thats why most of the rivalries here are so Cedar Grove contest. Since Ive been here good, because all the kids and the people in thats been the game we point to. Most of the community know each other.

Civil war

Tucker-Marist Tucker-Marist: A rivalry that has grown over the past few years because it recently has determined the winner of Region 6-AAAA. Tucker leads the series 12-8, with four of the past eight being decided by a touchdown or less. Southwest DeKalb-Stone Mountain: The series had become much more competitive in the final eight games before reclassification put an end to it, maybe temporarily, in 2009. SWD leads 20-5, but won only four of the past seven.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Sports
Allen said he hopes this is a breakout season for the Eagles, who have made the playoffs only once (2005) since 1997. The Eagles are loaded with offensive weapons as Kenno Loyal returns at running back after leading the county with 1,460 yards a season ago. Wide receiver Keithon Redding, a Tennessee commit, caught 10 touchdown passes in nine games as a junior. Defensively, Jhaustin Thomas led the team with 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss last season. Head coach: David Radford (4th season) Region: 6-AA 2010 record: 2-7-1 Outlook: Playing a non-region schedule for the second straight season should help the Indians get more competitive after posting its most wins since 2004. The schedule includes six Class A private schools. Replacing quarterback Diego Guyton who accounted for more than 2,400 yards on offense and 19 touchdowns is a top priority. Seniors Chartone Johnson and Paul Thomas are among several players returning on defense and will be instrumental in helping shore up a unit that allowed 43 points per game.

Page 18A

2011 DeKalb County High School Footall Team Preview

Arabia Mountain Rams
Head coach: Chris Beal (3rd season) Region: 5-AAA 2010 record: 3-7 Outlook: Another year of maturity and the schools second senior class gives coach Chris Beal reason for hope. Senior defensive back Case Woodard is the marquee player after tying for the lead in the county with five interceptions as a junior. He also led the Rams with 98 total tackles and recovered four fumbles. Offensively, junior quarterback Courtney Davis will take the reins after splitting time at the position last season. Davis completed 54.6 percent of his passes for 901 yards. linebackers Jake Hudgins and TeMyrick Mosley, tight end Elliott Arno, nose guard Connor Warren and defensive back Nick Willis.

Lakeside Vikings

Cross Keys Indians

Cedar Grove Saints

Head coach: Ray Bonner (9th season) Region: 5-AAA 2010 record: 8-5 Outlook: The Saints are coming off their most successful season in 19 years and have the firepower to maintain their success. Junior Jonathan McCrary returns after completing 65 percent of his passes for 3,343 yards and 24 touchdowns. Improving on 17 interceptions is a priority. Senior Brandon Greene (6-foot-6, 295 pounds) anchors the offensive line and has committed to Alabama. On defense, seniors Tarvis Hall and Xavier Cooper will be among the leaders. The pair combined for five interceptions a year ago.

Head coach: Marcus Mitchell (1st season) Region: 5-AAA 2010 record: 2-8 Outlook: Coach Marcus Mitchell will try to establish continuity after being named the schools fourth head coach in the past six seasons. The Vikings, one of the states dominant teams from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, have not had a winning season since 2003. Sophomores Bradley Ernest and Nick Alexander have stood out in the preseason, Mitchell said. Priorities for the Vikings are finding a new quarterback and replacements for the teams top four tacklers, all of whom graduated.

Lithonia Bulldogs

Decatur Bulldogs

Chamblee Bulldogs

Head coach: James Soza (2nd season) Region: 6-AAAA 2010 record: 2-8 Outlook: The youngest coach in DeKalb County at 28, James Soza is trying make the Bulldogs competitive in AAAA after making the AAA playoffs four of the previous five seasons before his arrival. Improving the offense is a top priority as the Bulldogs were shut out five times and averaged only 161 yards per game last season. Linebacker Myles Gilchrist and defensive back Byron Walker, both seniors, return to lead the defense. The pair combined for 75 tackles a year ago.

Head coach: Prince Jones (4th season) Region: 6-AA 2010 record: 6-4 Outlook: The Bulldogs missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season, but are coming off their best season since 2005. Sam Jones and Carl Langley will be counted on to go both ways up front. Chris Hamby is expected to be an impact player at fullback and linebacker. The Bulldogs playoff chances again likely will come down to a play-in game in one of the toughest regions in the state. Decatur lost to the top three teams in the region last year by a combined total of 75 points.

Head coach: Marcus Jelks ( 2nd season) Region: 6-AAAA 2010 record: 4-6 Outlook: Coach Marcus Jelks in his first season led the Bulldogs to their best record since 2004. A .500 or better season could be on the horizon as some of the top players in the county from last season are back. Running back Denzel Veale returns after rushing for more than 1,000 yards and senior Joe Harris is back as the top offensive lineman in the state. Defensively, cornerback Bret Love returns as the teams top tackler with 100 stops.

Marist War Eagles

Druid Hills Red Devils

Clarkston Angoras

Head coach: Gary Wansley (1st season) Region: 6-AA 2010 record: 1-9 Outlook: First-year coach Gary Wansley has one of the toughest jobs in the county, as Clarkstons immigrant and refugee population has made football success difficult in recent years. Wansley, who played at perennial power Buford, takes over for Jay Rollerson who won only four games in five seasons at Clarkston. Wansley has tabbed senior Cepeda Glover to carry the load and the ball offensively. Defensively, senior Quincy Ross and juniors Eddie Smith and Kalif Harper have stood out according to Wansley.

Head coach: Kip Hall (6th season) Region: 5-AAA 2010 record: 4-6 Outlook: Steven Bruce and Luis Guttierrez, a pair of 6-foot-2, 245-pound seniors, will anchor both the offensive and defensive lines for the Red Devils. Najee Johnson, a junior transfer from Avondale, and receiver/defensive back Kyle Simmons also are expected to provide leadership. Sophomore kicker/punter Ben Wheeler has been accurate in the 40-yard-plus range on field goals in the preseason and has been effective on punts and kickoffs, according to Hall.

Head coach: Alan Chadwick (27th season) Region: 6-AAAA 2010 record: 9-3 Outlook: Senior kicker Austin Hardin gives the War Eagles capability to win at long-range. The Florida commit kicked a 59-yard field goal as time expired to beat Southwest DeKalb last season. Matthew Barker also returns on offense, but coach Alan Chadwick will have newcomers at quarterback, across the offensive and defensive lines and at linebacker. The War Eagles have proven to be able to make the playoffs consistently despite having to replace players in key positions. They have made the playoffs 28 straight seasons.

M.L. King Lions

Dunwoody Wildcats

Columbia Eagles

Head coach: Mario Allen (3rd season) Region: 5-AAA 2010 record: 6-4 Outlook: With five Division I prospects, coach Mario

Head coach: Jim Showfety (2nd season) Region: 6-AAAA 2010 record: 6-4 Outlook: The Wildcats bring plenty of momentum into the season after finishing on a five-game winning streak and winning six of the final seven games a year ago. The Wildcats posted three shutouts and allowed only nine points in the final four games. Senior Justin King, one of the most versatile players in the county, will be the catalyst. Coach Jim Showfety also is looking for senior leadership from

Head coach: Michael Carson (2nd season) Region: 2-AAAAA 2010 record: 8-4 Outlook: Expect the Lions to come out throwing the ball at will again after winning six of eight 7-on-7 passing tournaments over the summer. Quarterback Jonquel Dawson returns after a recordsetting season a year ago with 3,611 yards and 41 touchdowns. Blake Tibbs is the top returning receiver. Andrecus Jackson, a transfer from Southwest DeKalb, should allow the Lions to be a little more balanced offensively. End Kenderius Whitehead, who transferred from Monroe Area, and three-year starter Alan Carson at defensive back anchor the defense.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

Sports
St. Pius Golden Lions Stone Mountain Pirates

Page 19A

2011 DeKalb County High School Footall Team Preview

McNair Mustangs
Head coach: Tywanois Lockett (2nd season) Region: 5-AAA 2010 record: 1-9 Outlook: Coach Tywanois Lockett said a good work ethic and commitment to summer practice will help the Mustangs be able to improve on last season. Better strength and endurance should help the Mustangs improve defensively as they allowed more than 300 yards per game a year ago. The Mustangs ended the season on a positive note with a win over North Springs that snapped a 10-game losing streak. McNair was competitive as four games were decided by 10 points or less. Head coach: Paul Standard (11th season) Region: 5-AAA 2010 Record: 9-3 Outlook: The Golden Lions return nine senior returning starters, many of whom have started for at least three seasons. Senior quarterback Trey White, who has committed to The Citadel, returns to lead the Golden Lions wishbone offense. Among the leaders on defense are linebacker T.J. Hollomon and defensive back Geno Smith, both seniors. The pair will be instrumental in guiding a defense that has allowed seven points or less in 15 games over the past two seasons. Depth and experience could carry the Golden Lions to another deep run in the playoffs. Head coach: Buck Godfrey (29th season) Region: 6-AAAA 2010 record: 8-3 Outlook: Another strong crop of seniors puts the Panthers in the mix for a playoff spot in rugged Region 6-AAAA. Two-sport athlete William Goodwin, at 6-foot-7, is one of the top-rated tight ends in the state. Linebacker Torian Davis is one of the teams best athletes. The Panthers like to create points off their defense and Davis took the lead last season, returning two interceptions and one fumble for touchdowns. Offensively, Jalil Young will be the fulltime starter at quarterback after playing in spurts the past two seasons. Head coach: Dante Ferguson (3rd season) Region: 5-AAA 2010 record: 6-4 Outlook: The Pirates should contend for a playoff spot after a close call last season. The team has 26 seniors on the roster after losing 25 to graduation in the spring. William Parker will lead the offense after gaining more than 1,000 yards rushing a season ago. Defensively, linebacker Ukeme Eligwe, who has committed to Florida State, anchors the defense. Junior defensive lineman Michael Anderson, who has dropped more than 50 pounds and weighs in at 365, will be a force up front.

Miller Grove Wolverines

Head coach: Damien Wimes (2nd season) Region: 6-AAAA 2010 record: 3-7 Outlook: The Wolverines benefitted from a full offseason from coach Damien Wimes, who took over two weeks before the start of last season. Defense will be a priority as the Wolverines were one of only three teams in the county to allow more than 300 yards total offense per game. Junior defensive end Jacob Mitchell is one of the leaders Wimes is counting on to help improve the defense. Punter/ wide receiver Melquan Benton also is expected to contribute.

Southwest DeKalb Panthers

Towers Titans

Head coach: Marvin Jones (2nd season) Region: 5-AAA 2010 record: 1-9 Outlook: The Titans are looking for continuity and may find it with offensive standouts Quincy Tiller (quarterback), Keith Flanigan and Jaquavious Walker (running back) all returning to play together for a full season for the first time. Tiller did not become the full-time starter until a few games into the season and Walker played only one game last season. That should help improve an offense that scored a touchdown or less five times a year ago.

Redan Raiders

Tucker Tigers

Head coach: Clinton Lawrence (2nd season) Region: 6-AAAA 2010 record: 5-5 Outlook: Coach Clinton Lawrence has seen more commitment and better leadership in the offseason than in his first year at his alma mater. The Raiders are looking to improve on its best season since 2007. Replacing graduated team leader Akil Dan-Fodio at quarterback is a top priority. The Raiders return Troy Howard in the backfield and the offensive line is expected to be strong. Defensively, the Raiders will work to improve after allowing 22.5 points per game last season.

Stephenson Jaguars

Head coach: Ron Gartrell (16th season) Region: 2-AAAAA 2010 record: 9-2 Outlook: The Jaguars have had nearly 30 players sign football scholarships in each of the past two seasons and this year should be no different as 15 already have committed to major college teams. Jarontay Jones, Jafar Mann and Carlos Hood comprise one of the top defensive fronts in the state, and the Jaguars are loaded at linebacker and in the secondary as well. Linebacker Raphael Kirby, a Miami (Fla.) commit, and safety Kyle Fleetwood, committed to South Carolina, are among several other marquee players.

Head coach: Franklin Stephens (5th season) Region: 6-AAAA 2010 record: 13-1 Outlook: The Tigers return four starters each on offense and defense from a team that reached the state semifinals last season. The entire offensive backfield will feature new starters but there is a solid base returning on defense, which allowed a county-best 11.4 points per game. Defensive lineman Joshua Dawson and linebacker Jacob Seland both have committed to Vanderbilt. Defensive back Jordan Landry will be a leader in the secondary in a unit that led with county in interceptions (20).

The Champion 2011 preseason all-county football team

OFFENSE QB Jonquel Dawson, M.L. King (5-10, 185, Sr.) RB Mike Davis, Stephenson (5-10, 195, Sr.) RB Kenno Loyal, Columbia (5-10, 220, Sr.) RB William Parker, Stone Mountain (6-0, 185, Sr.) RB Denzel Veale, Lithonia (5-8, 165, Sr.) WR Blake Tibbs, M.L. King (6-1, 170, Sr.) WR Keithon Redding, Columbia (6-1, 190, Sr.) WR Mials Woodberry, Arabia Mountain TE William Goodwin, Southwest DeKalb (6-7, 235, Sr.) OL Brandon Greene, Cedar Grove (6-6, 296, Sr.) OL Joe Harris, Lithonia (6-4, 285, Sr.) OL Nick Brigham, Marist (6-4, 261, Sr.) OL Damon Sprouse, Southwest DeKalb (6-5, 276, Sr.) OL Jafar Mann, Stephenson (6-4, 293, Sr.) OL Kenneth Crenshaw, Tucker (6-2, 250, Sr.) ATH Jonathan McCrary, Cedar Grove (6-2, 170, Jr.) K Austin Hardin, Marist (5-11, 195, Sr.) DEFENSE DL Josh Dawson, Tucker (6-4, 225, Sr.) DL Jarontay Jones, Stephenson (6-3, 245, Sr.) DL Kenderius Whitehead, M.L. King (6-5, 210, Sr.) DL Carlos Hood, Stephenson (6-4, 265, Sr.) DL Jhaustin Thomas, Columbia (6-6, 233, Sr.) LB T.J. Holloman, St. Pius (6-2, 215, Sr.) LB Jacob Seland, Tucker (6-1, 220, Sr.) LB Ukeme Eligwe, Stone Mountain (6-3, 210, Sr.) LB Toran Davis, Southwest DeKalb (5-11, 185, Sr.) LB Raphael Kirby, Stephenson (6-2, 218, Sr.) DB Geno Smith, St. Pius (6-0, 165, Sr.) DB Alan Carson, M.L. King (5-8, 155, Sr.) DB Kyle Fleetwood, Stephenson (6-0, 200, Sr.) DB Case Woodard, Arabia Mountain (5-10, 150, Sr.) DB Bret Love, Lithonia (5-10, 175, Sr.) ATH Justin King, Dunwoody (6-3, 215, Sr.) P Ben Wheeler, Druid Hills (5-7, 140, So.)

Jonquel Dawson

T.J. Holloman

Kenneth Crenshaw

Ben Wheeler

Page 20A

The Champion Free Press, Friday, August 19, 2011

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