Champion Free Press: 11-16-12

Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker
and Stone Mountain.
FREEPRESS
WWW.CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 2012 VOL. 15, NO. 34 FREE
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Arabia Mountain High School Air Force Junior ROTC, left, and Lithonia High School Junior ROTC units participated in the City of Lithonia Inaugural Veterans Day parade.
City of Lithonia honors and celebrates veterans

by Carla Parker carla@dekalbchamp.com any of Lithonias World I and World War II veterans, those living and those buried, were never recognized for their service to their country. On Nov. 10, the city of Lithonia took time out to honor and celebrate more than 120 veterans at the City of Lithonia Inaugural Salute. The event included a parade from Lithonia Middle School to the Bruce Street African American Cemetery. The parade featured Navy veteran Theodore Arthur Bryant Jr. as grand marshal; junior ROTC units from Arabia Mountain, Lithonia Martin Luther King Jr., Miller Grove high schools; and marching bands from Clarkston, Cross Keys, and Stone Mountain high schools. The parade was followed by a Celebration of Living and Fallen Veterans ceremony at the Lithonias historic Black cemetery. Col. Brent Bracewell, director of the Joint Staff of the Georgia National Guard, was the keynote speaker. Bracewell spoke about the shared sacrifice of veterans and the reason they serve. The short answer is for the love of county, he
IS SHE WHYIS SHE SO SOHAPPY ? WHY

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DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson, center, and Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson, left, presented Navy veteran Theodore Arthur Bryant Jr., right, a proclamation as his grandson, comedian Chris Tucker, far right, looks on. Photos by Carla Parker
said. The long answer is it High School recorded the on battle grounds. chance and every opportuis based on the values and information on the tombIn 1946, Phillips surnity we get to do so, she beliefs that have motivated stones and formed a list of vived the wreck of the USS said. American fighting men and American war veterans, Truxtun off the coast of Comedian Chris Tuckwomen. many of whom were never Newfoundland in Canada. er, grandson of Bryant, The event was coordirecognized for their service He was the only Blacks to was brought to tears when nated by the Friends of the because of the countrys his- survive. he thanked his grandfather Lithonia African American tory of segregation. Dr. Vonzia Phillips and other veterans for their Cemetery. Barbara LesThe list included Navy spoke at the ceremony about service. ter, a former Lithonia City veteran and shipwreck surhow her father and other she gets herImupdates online from the The Champ Because news so proud of him, Council member, began vivor Lanier W. Phillips, veterans laid the ground he said. I wouldnt be able Because she gets her news updates online from the The Champion. cleaning up the cemetery in whoshe gets her news updates onlineand we allThe Champion. do the things that Ive to Because died March 11, 2012. workshoulders. stand on from the 2001 and recording names Phillips joined the Navy in their done if it wasnt for him and of the deceased veterans. 1942 where he cooked and Its only fitting that www.facebook.com/championnewspaper In April, ROTC cadets cleaned because Blacks we honor them not just on See Veterans on Page 19A from Arabia Mountain were not allowed to serve Veterans Day but on every
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The Champion Free Press, Friday, Nov. 15, 2012
Local News
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Hosea Turkey Drop 2012

Volunteers from Sodexo, Publix and Kroger delivered more than 4,000 turkeys to the DeKalb County Jail Nov. 9 in support of the Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless (HFTH) organization. Each year HFTH provides Thanksgiving meals to more than 40,000 people in need. Elizabeth Omilami, CEO of HFTH, said 2012 marks the organizations 43rd annual holiday dinner celebration. DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown said volunteers have been using the jails kitchen to prepare for the dinner since well before he became sheriff and it had become a tradition. The HFTHs annual Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Photos by Daniel Beauregard
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Brookhaven prepares for runoff election

by Daniel Beauregard daniel@dekalbchamp.com of the commissions findings to all of Brookhavens newly-elected officials. Newly-formed Since only one was elected, Brookhavens recent elecEyre was provided with the tion yielded only one clear preliminary report. winner for a city council He got the commission post. Real estate broker and report, Gokce said. Even businessman Jim Eyre will though its not required represent residents in coun- well have an additional cil District 2. report to provide to all the Residents will vote for elected officials. the rest of Brookhavens Eyre, a board member of city officials Dec. 4 in a the Brookhaven-Peachtree runoff election which will Community Association, take place less than two received 54.63 percent of weeks away from the date the overall vote. set for the official establishI cant tell you how good that feels, Eyre said. What I want to do is get up to speed on the Brookhaven ComIve told mission reportIm going to start looking at the reports on the all my fellow RFPs. Since the official council establishment of the city is Dec. 17, alcandidates most a month away, Eyre said he has a that I have the head start to become familiar with the best interest of commissions findings and review the Brookhaven in different services that have been proposed. mind. Eyre also said that he thinks the first Jim Eyre thing he and his colleagues should do, after theyve been ment of the city. elected, is to begin working After Brookhaven resion a budget for Brookhavdents voted in favor of city- ens first year. hood July 31, Governor The city is going to Nathan Deal appointed a grow but for year one, volunteer commission to weve got to get the city help ease the formation of a on strong footing with a new government. balanced budgetweve Kim Gokce, a also got to put away some Brookhaven resident and reserves, Eyre said. co-founder of The Cross During the time leadKeys Foundation, is on the ing up to the July election, five-member commission. residents for and against Gokce said a runoff was the creation of Brookhaven expected and the commisvoiced their concerns. Eyre sion will continue to do said the debate was congroundwork for the city tentious at times but now, until all of Brookhavens as far as hes concerned, elected officials are chosen. Brookhaven YES and NO Gokce said the major went away July 31. Eyre items are the requests for said he would do his best proposals (RFP) for city to form a good working services that are required to relationship with his fellow be submitted no later than council members. Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. Ive told all my fellow That will be the focus council candidates that I between now and the runhave the best interest of off; making sure the inBrookhaven in mind, Eyre tegrity of the RFP process said. If its the best for continues, Gokce said. Brookhaven then lets get it The day after the elecdone. tion, Gokce said they were Each term of office lasts required to submit a report until 2015.
File Photo
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Trailblazers
beloved community. In fact, the Trailblazer Awards event was nearly an all-girl show, save for a couple of really exceptional, spirit-filled male mimes. It was an upbeat, inspirational tribute to automobile dealer Juanita Baranco, florist Alice Bussey, senior activist Carleen Cumberbatch, banker Charlene Fang, community activist Sarah Fitts, Leadership DeKalb retired director Sara Fountain and former DeKalb CEO and former state Sen. Liane Levetan. Champion Newspaper Publisher Carolyn Jernigan Glenn was the program guide. Yours truly brought the occasion while remarks on leadership were provided by realtor Bobbie Sanford and acknowledgements by Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry. The invocation was given by Dr. Betty Jones, Pastor of the County Line United Methodist Church, and the benediction by pastor Grace Washington of Love Life Christian Fellowship Church. To a nearly full house in the auditorium of the Porter Sanford Performing Arts and Community Center, the aforementioned women were given their due for breaking down formerly impenetrable glass ceilings and for their selfless work in the community. Notably, Fang is the first female director for the Hip Sing Chinese business organization in its 150-year history. Levetan was DeKalbs first female county commissioner and later became our first female chief executive officer. Among the seven women there is more than 200 years experience in their chosen fields and in service to the DeKalb and metro Atlanta communities. There are many women in DeKalb who work tirelessly for the betterment of our community. Champion publisher Carolyn Glenn is certainly one of them and in the humble opinion of this writer should have been one of the women honored when one considers that there are few Black owned newspapers that have the distinction of being the legal organ. That said, the women honored last week are extremely deserving. They challenged the bastions of male dominance to excel in corporate, governmental, business and civic pursuits. Theirs are stories of courage, dedication and integrity. It is fitting that their accomplishments be recognized and applauded. They have created a lasting legacy through their work and commitment. Thank you Congressman Johnson and Commissioner Watson for shining the spotlight on our DeKalb sisters. Steen Miles, The Newslady, is a retired journalist and former Georgia state senator. Contact Steen Miles at Steen@dekalbchamp.com.
Opinion The Newslady
The Champion Free Press, Friday, Nov. 16 , 2012
Congressman Hank Johnson and Commissioner Stan Watson put on a grand affair recently, honoring seven giants among women in DeKalb County. Last year they honored President Obamas federal appointees in the Southeastmen and womenincluding former DeKalb District Attorney Gwen KeyesFleming who is now the southeast regional director of the Environmental Protection Agency. This year it was all females, women who have made stellar accomplishments in their careers and contributed mightily to the
Help wanted: A uniter, not a divider

which so deeply divide us. I do not envy you, nor would I have envied Gov. Romney, the tasks ahead of you during the next four years. The coming fiscal cliff and budget sequestration, potential gutting of our military, crumbling infrastructure and a deficit by your own administrations current projections expected to grow by another trillion dollars each of the next four years, are just a few of the challenges which lie ahead. That said, we remain the envy of western civilization, and the beacon of liberty for parts of the world still helmed by despots, dictators or Third World governments without reach or resources. Our economy though battered remains among the worlds most productive, and our innovation and ability to squeeze more from a dollar is again gaining the attention of many of the worlds manufacturers. Fiscal cliff/sequestration cuts Perhaps dust off a copy of the Simpson/Bowles Commission Report, or call a meeting of the growing U.S. Senate Gang of Six to rapidly jump start reasoned discussions about nearly $4 trillion in long term budget cuts, offset by revenue enhancements. Given the depth of the hole we are in, a good place to start might be $10 of cuts, for every $1 in new revenue. A budget freeze, across the board at all levels is also worthy of consideration, as each future federal budget typically presupposes spending growth in the range of 5-7 percent. Two parties on Capitol Hill You won your first term with a mandate, receiving almost 9 million more votes than you received this election cycle. Last time, the American people also gave your agenda a super-majority Democratic Congress in both chambers. But the 2010 mid-terms gave the GOP a strong majority in the U.S. House, and this election did not change that. Though you have joked about wooing House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) or Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (RKentucky) with dog walks and car washes, it is time instead for serious discussion of ideas and proposals from both sides of the aisle, as President Bill Clinton so successfully delivered welfare reform, with a GOP Congress, and along with then House Speaker Newt Gingrich delivered two balanced budgets, not including Social Security transfer payments. Walk the Walk As you already know from your first term, it is much easier to make campaign promises about balancing budgets, reducing unemployment, growing the job base, closing Guantanamo Bay, etc. than it is to actually do those things once in office. Having read or watched speeches by F.D.R., T.R., J.F.K. and others, I can say you are almost without White House peer in terms of oratorical ability. Clinton was more charming and disarming, and Reagan was consistently funnier, but you have an ability to inspire and even possibly to become a transformational leader. There is no doubt in the minds of more than half our nation that you can talk the talk almost better than anyone can. Your challenge now is walking the walk. Your place in history is guaranteed now, your legacy and ultimately your success as president will be determined by your ability to lead us to compromise, reach a middle ground and perhaps several years of mutual self-sacrifice to right the wrongs of over-wrought deficit spending and restore our nation to responsible and reasonable fiscal good health. Bill Crane also serves as a political analyst and commentator for Channel 2s Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5 FM, as well as a columnist for The Champion, Champion Free Press and Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb native and business owner, living in Scottdale. You can reach him or comment on a column at billcrane@earthlink.net.
Opinion One Mans Opinion
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The Many can elect, after the Few have been nominated.essayist and political commentator Walter Lippmann (1889-1974), who was twice awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Congratulations, Mr. President. I voted for the other guy. That said, I will now ask that you lead by your own campaign mottoForward, and I am offering to help. Regardless of who folks voted for, most Americans want a handful of very basic actions from their federal government. They want both major political parties, the White House and Congress, to work toward solving the problems that plague our nation. Your candidacy, campaign team, supporters and contributors all share in the credit for your victory. And hopefully, by Jan. 20, and your second inauguration, the American people, as well as our leaders, will begin to focus more on our many similarities and common concerns, and much less on our differences and the small number of issues
FREEPRESS
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Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Send E-Mail to Kathy@dekalbchamp.com FAX To: (404) 370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779 Deadline for news releases and advertising: Thursday, one week prior to publication date. EDITORS NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or publishers. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. The Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
Publisher: Dr. Earl D. Glenn Managing Editor: Kathy Mitchell News Editor: Andrew Cauthen Production Manager: Kemesha Hunt Graphic Designer: Travis Hudgons The Champion Free Press is published each Friday by ACE III Communications, Inc., 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030 Phone (404) 373-7779.
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We sincerely appreciate the discussion surrounding this and any issue of interest to DeKalb County. The Champion was founded in 1991 expressly to provide a forum for discourse for all community residents on all sides of an issue. We have no desire to make the news only to report news and opinions to effect a more educated citizenry that will ultimately move our community forward. We are happy to present ideas for discussion; however, we make every effort to avoid printing information submitted to us that is known to be false and/ or assumptions penned as fact.
Community
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Championof the Week
Warren Lovingood
gather all the donations from his church, he helps sort out the toiletries for the hygiene kits that we give out, he donates badly needed nances to the ministry, he prays like a man at every site that we go to, he ministers to those who need encouraging. He is a God-sent to this ministry. Oh how I wish I had about 10 of him. So much could get done. When he is sick, which is very rare, he nds a way to help out still. Lovingood said he does Decatur resident Warnot judge those he meets ren Lovingood said he in the streets or speculate helps people because he on the circumstances that believes thats what God led to their situations. A wants him to do. Teresa Lady T Ham- recovering alcoholic who stoped drinking more than ilton, who operates Lady 30 years ago, Lovingood Ts Homeless Ministry, works with others trying nominated Lovingood as to overcome addictions Champion of the Week, through Alcoholics Anonysaying he has been a strong leader in that orga- mous and the Overcomnization for more than two ers Ministry at his church, Spirit and Truth Sanctuary, years. formerly The Cathedral of Lovingood collects the Holy Spirit, where he donations of money and serves as a deacon. items homeless people No service is too small need and helps distribfor Lovingood, who said ute the items. Last week he sometimes goes out when the temperature and picks up trash that dropped, we got together folks who call themselves some blankets, warm grown-up drop in the clothing, food, water and street. other things people in the The other day I saw street need and got those a little girl about 5 years things to them, he said. Im retired now and I have old with a bag picking up trash in the street, Lovinthe time, so I help all I good said. Maybe when can. Hamilton said of Lovin- I try to do whats right, it inspires others, even the good, He is the most dedicated man I have ever youngsters in our commuknown. Whenever I go out nity. Hamilton said Lovinto the streets to feed the good is one of a kind. homeless, he is always right there. He helps to
The following comments are pulled straight from our website and are not edited for content or grammar.
Georgia voters pass charter school amendment

How about because we have been funding them for years and years with decreased results? DeKalb has proven that more money DOES NOT give better results. When was the last time you saw DeKalb close a school because it wasnt performing?
Rae posted this on 11/8/12 at 7:47 p.m.
I guess many parents, like myself, are ready for a change in the schools systems. These changes may not happen while MY children are still in school, but hopefully can benet someone. In my county, I truly feel that the CONTROL needs to be taken away from the good ol boys . I dont feel that the local control has been benecial for my children. I have had issues with the local school board, and had no where else to go, because the buck stops with them.
Evie posted this on 11/7/12 at 3:09 p.m.
$430 million dollars from Ga. taxpayers in the next 5 years to pay for this. Why not fund all that money into the current schools systems?
Dawn posted this on 11/7/12 at 2:43 p.m.
If you would like to nominate someone to be considered as a future Champion of the Week, please contact Kathy Mitchell at kathy@dekalbchamp.com or at (404) 373-7779, ext. 104.
Community
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ATLANTA
AROUND DEKALB
greenery will be cut from the nursery in North Carolina one day before delivery to Atlanta. Fraser fir trees are available in various sizes and start at $48. Fraser fir wreaths start at $16, Fraser fir roping starts at $20 and white pine roping starts at $15. All purchases have a money-back guaranteed. Evergreens can be ordered online at www.shallowford.orgclick Evergreen Saleor call (404) 3211844 should be ordered by Sunday, Nov. 17, and will be available be picked up Saturday, Dec. 1, in the church parking lot. Home delivery is available for an additional $20. Shallowford Presbyterian Church is located at 2375 Shallowford Road, Atlanta. who are in foster care waiting to be adopted. The Honorable Judge Gregory Adams will officiate the adoptions and serve as one of the guest speakers. I am delighted to partner with Judge Adams and DeKalb DFACS for such a wonderful and inspiring celebration, DeBerry said. For more information, contact Fayron Woodley in the adoptions, appeals and passports division of the Office of the Clerk of Superior Court at (404) 687-3873. Library to show Snow White and the Huntsman Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library, as part of its Friday Movie Series, will show Snow White and the Huntsman, starring Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron, Friday, Nov. 23, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. The 2012 movie is rated PG-13 and runs 127 minutes. Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library is located at 1282 McConnell Drive, Decatur. For more information, call (404) 679-4404. The Friday Movie Series features a mix of new releases and old favorites. When available, movies are presented with closed captioning to assist the hearing impaired. Commissioner to host 14th annual Tree of Love program DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson is hosting his 14th annual Tree of Love initiative. The Tree of Love is a holiday celebration to assist children living in DeKalb who because of their circumstancesfoster care, single-parent, low-income household, etc.may not have a merry Christmas. This is what Christmas is all about, helping and giving to others, Johnson said. The holiday season is a great time for people to give back to the community and help someone in need. Johnson began this initiative at South DeKalb Mall in 1999. Since that time, more than 7,000 children have been adopted through the Tree of Love. Children being assisted by the Department of Family and Children Services and from the community at-large have been the recipients of the Christmas gifts secured through the Tree of Love. The kick-off for the event will be Saturday, Nov. 24, beginning at noon at the Gallery at South DeKalb Mall, 2801 Candler Road, Decatur. The community, business owners and churches are invited to come out and take a childs name from the Tree of Love. Gifts will be due back Saturday, Dec. 15, when the annual Tree of Love Christmas Program will take place at South DeKalb Mall beginning at noon. Individuals and groups interested in showcasing their talents and participating in the Christmas program in December can contact Johnsons office at (404) 964-4936. Author returns to speak at church Author Anne Lamott returns to First Baptist Church Decatur Monday, Nov. 19, for her second appearance this year. She delighted a full-house crowd when she spoke in June, and now she returns with an inspiring and compelling new book, Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers. In this book, this prize-winning author (Traveling Mercies, Imper-
Lakeside Foundation to sponsor race The Lakeside Foundation will hold its Viking 5K Road Race Saturday, Nov. 17, at Lakeside High School. The event will include a 5K (3.1 miles) race starting at 8 a.m. and a one-mile Fun Run starting at 8:30 a.m. The community is invited to participate. Both serious and occasional runners are welcome. Registration is $25 per person. Participants can register online at www.active.com or www.Lakeside Foundation. org. Check-in and late registration will be 7 - 7:45 a.m. on race day at the Lakeside High School Fine Arts Building, 3801 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta. For the safety of the runners, no pets, inline skates, skateboards or bikes are permitted. A fresh Thanksgiving turkey will be awarded to the top two overall male and female winners and top masters, male and female. Other awards will be given in age categories. Top finishers in each age group will be entered into a drawing for a flat screen TV. All proceeds will support the Lakeside Foundation and programs to enhance education, athletics and the arts at Lakeside High School. Church holding evergreen sale Shallowford Presbyterian Church is holding its annual evergreen sale of fresh trees, wreaths and roping to benefit the Shallowford Youth Ministries and help fund scholarships and the summer choir tour. Fresh, live trees and
DECATUR
DeKalbs clerk of superior court to hold adoption day DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry and Georgia Department of Human Resources DeKalb Adoptions Division of DFACS have partnered to participate in National Adoption Day Friday, Nov. 16, as part of National Adoption Month. The ceremony finalizing several adoptions will take place in the Judicial Tower of the DeKalb County Courthouse on the fifth floor in Courtroom 5D, beginning at 9 a.m. Following the ceremony, a celebratory event will be held in the Maloof Auditorium at 1300 Commerce Drive in Decatur. November is recognized as National Adoption Month to focus attention on children in the child welfare system
fect Birds) focuses on three simple prayers that are critical to help get through tough times, difficult days and the hardships we all encounter, according to an announcement from the DeKalb County Library System. Her readers know well Lamotts funny and perceptive writing about her own faith through decades of trial and error, and no one will want to miss her prescription for these prayers: asking for acceptance from a higher power, appreciating what we have that is good, and feeling awe at the natural world that surrounds us. Insightful, honest, deeply personal, this book may be her best yet. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. Guests will be received on a first-come, first-seated basis. First Baptist Church Decatur is located at 308 Clairemont Ave., Decatur.
TUCKER
Handwriting expert to speak at library Author and graphology expert Josh Batcheldor will be at the Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library Saturday, Nov.17, 2 - 4 p.m., to tell those in attendance what their handwriting reveals about their personalities. He is the author of several books on this topic and has presented numerous programs to business and civic groups. No registration is required. Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library is located at 5234 LaVista Road, Tucker. For more information, call (770) 270-8234.
Local News
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Paroled prisoner pleads guilty to threatening to kill elderly mother

by Daniel Beauregard daniel@dekalbchamp.com A prisoner who was released after serving more than 10 years for armed robbery is headed back to prison again for threatening to kill his mother. Daniel Alonzo Myers was living in Myers the Scottdale area with his mother after being paroled Feb. 28, 2011, from a life sentence for armed robbery. Upon his release, Myers moved into the home of his 81-year-old mother, Gladys Marie Headrick. Myers pleaded guilty Nov. 5 to committing one count of terroristic threats and one count of abusing an elderly person. According to Assistant District Attorney Angel Riley, Myers received a sentence to serve one year in prison, with an additional four years of probation upon his release. In 1990 Myers was convicted of drug and weapons charges, and committing armed robbery. According to court documents, after Myers moved in with his mother he began to become verbally abusive. Headrick repeatedly asked Myers to leave and he refused, in one case threatening to kill her and cut up her body into little pieces, according to court documents. Prosecutors said that Headrick had been living in fear since her son had moved in after being paroled. According to a document from the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, on Oct. 15, 2011, Myers became irate when his mother again asked him to move out. She was frightened and she called the defendants son, Joshua Myers, and he came over to the house, the document states. When Headricks grandson arrived he saw his father arguing with Headrick and heard him say he was going to get a Mossberg [shotgun] and start blasting. According to the document, another family member also heard the threat and called 911. When police arrived on the scene Myers admitted he became angry with his mother but denied threatening her. A judge has also ordered that upon his release, he is to stay away from the victim and her house.
Expedition to showcase Arabia Mountains heritage

The rich history and culture of Lithonia and the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area will be showcased during the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservations Arabia Mountain Expedition Nov. 17. On Saturday, participants will have the opportunity to tour the homesteads of some of the areas earliest settlers, discover relics of the granite quarrying industry while exploring the mountain, and learn about the areas historically Black community of Flat Rock. Participants will begin the day by picking up registration packets 9:30-10 a.m. in the ladys parlor of the Lithonia Womans Club, a building constructed in 1928 with locally quarried granite. Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson will welcome participants with opening remarks and there will be a brief presentation about the Arabia Mountain Heritage Areas natural and cultural history. The Lithonias Womans Club is located at 2564 Wiggins St., Lithonia. At noon, participants will be served a boxed lunch at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, a religious community established in 1944 by Trappist monks who traveled from Kentucky to Conyers on a monastic journey. Guests will explore the 1960s Abbey Church, tour the new Monastic Center and Historic Museum and see the bonsai nursery and gift shop. Fr. Methodius will give a short presentation and overview of the Abbey Church. Guests will spend the rest of the day exploring the history and culture of Lithonia and Arabia Mountain Heritage Area, where they will discover unique sites including Rockdale Countys historic Smyrna Campground and Presbyterian Church. Established in 1827, the church still hosts annual camp meetings that bring worshippers to the 30-acre campus, complete with historic cottages, tabernacle and cemetery. Guests will also explore Arabia Mountain, a granite monadnock (isolated rock mountain) similar to Stone Mountain and Panola Mountain. Owned and quarried by the Davidson family for much of the 20th century, the mountain was donated to DeKalb County in the 1970s to be enjoyed as a nature preserve. Visitors to the mountain will experience its unique ecosystem and see evidence of the areas once thriving granite industry. The day ends with a special closing reception at the Housworth Homeplace, a beautifully restored cottage built in the 1890s by members of the Housworth family, one of the earliest families to settle in the area. In 2005, the cottage was sold through The Georgia Trusts revolving fund and lovingly rehabilitated. Participants will tour the house and its outbuildings before attending a closing reception in the barn and gardens. On Sunday guests can opt to take part in the Arabia Mountain Expedition Bike Tour Challenge, a 24-mile guided bike tour that will begin in downtown Lithonia
The Lyon House near Lithonia will be one of the stops of a tour showcasing the heritage of Lithonia. File Photo
and follow paved trails constructed by the PATH Foundation. Sites on the bike tour include the Lyon Plantation, Vaughtners Farm, Arabia Mountain and granite ruins. Saturdays Arabia Mountain Expedition is $35 for Georgia Trust members and $40 for non-members and includes lunch and the closing reception. Sundays bike ride is $30. The cost for both days is $65. For more information or to register, visit www.GeorgiaTrust.org or call (404) 885-7817.
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Local News
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DeKalb Schools ordered to pay back misspent Title I funds

by Daniel Beauregard daniel@dekalbchamp.com The Georgia Department of Education (GDOE) has asked the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) to pay back nearly $1 million in misspent Title I funds. Each year GDOE takes a random sampling of expenditures to audit Title I funds, which provide federal funding to schools in low-income areas. In March, as part of its sampling, GDOE selected DCSDs Communities In Schools (CIS) contract. Like many other metro Atlanta school districts, DCSD has been under a CIS contract since 2008. This year, [GDOE] deemed that the CIS services provided in the contract did not qualify as an allowable activity, a DCSD press release stated. As a result, the district is required to repay $885,000 from its general fund to the GDOE to resolve the issue. School officials said since the expenditure had not been cited in the past four years, the district had no indication it was unallowable. DeKalb Schools spokesman Jeff Dickerson said the districts Title I administration is currently undergoing restructuring to ensure more accountability in the future. The rules can shift from year to year, Dickerson said. Were working on just doing a better job internally and staying on top of the Title I regulations as they change. Dickerson said that to pay for the funds the district will need to make adjustments in its budget. However, during the DeKalb County School Boards Nov. 5 meeting, officials reported that the district is currently bringing in revenue at a faster rate than in the past. Additionally, GDOE has ordered the district to repay approximately $25,000 of expenditures that are unrelated to the districts CIS contract, which brings the total to $910,000. Margo DeLaune, title programs director for GDOE, echoed Dickerson and said there are an enormous number of regulations for a district as large as DCSD to follow. Its not unheard of that someone wouldnt be aware of the non-allowable costs, DeLaune said. I believe [DCSD] had a new Title I director when we did the monitoring. DeLaune said some of the expenditures that werent allowed include using the funding to monitor student attendance and deal with behavioral issues, which is a responsibility of the district. Additionally, DeLaune said DCSD also used some funding to work with outside groups for grant-writing purposes. Id hope that this will help them to realize that they need to be very careful in looking at certain contracts, DeLaune said. These were spot checksdistricts have a massive number of purchase orders each year with Title I money and we just happened to pull this particular contract at this time. According to Gregg Stevens, a member of GDOEs legal team, DeKalb is in the process of responding to the findings of the audit. However, Stevens said that DCSD doesnt agree with some of the findings contained in the report and has responded with a rebuttal, which GDOE denied. Due to that denial, [DCSD] is going to have to respond to us again or complete the corrective action, Stevens said. The corrective action is the district repaying all of the misused funds. Stevens said the GDOE will not approve the FY2012 Title I budget until all findings of the audit have been addressed. Generally, if a district rebuts and GDOE denies the rebuttal the district will then complete the required corrective action. We have not heard back from DeKalb on the last rebuttal denial, Stevens said. Dickerson said the district is in the process of responding to GDOEs requests.
File Photo
Special tax districts could fix aging water, sewer pipes

by Andrew Cauthen andrew@dekalbchamp.com Neighborhoods in DeKalb County with failing or aging water and sewer systems could get some relief from a plan being considered by the Board of Commissioners. Some of these systems are plagued with aging pipes and undetected leaks which, in some cases, have led to water and sewer bills in the thousands of dollars per customer. Weve got some communities that are struggling because of this, Commissioner Lee May said. They need some help. This is a mechanism to address some of the aging infrastructure in some of these residences. A plan to allow special tax districts to help areas with private water and sewer systems to upgrade those systems is under review by county staff and commissioners. The county currently uses special taxing districts for a variety of improvements, including the installation of street lights, said Ted Rhinehart, the countys deputy chief operating officer over the infrastructure group. The tax districts are occasionally used to extend public sewer systems to areas that are still on septic tank systems, he said. Now the county is finalizing an ordinance that could allow special tax districts for the few areas where there are some agingprivate water lines or sewer lines, Rhinehart said. Under the ordinance, the Board of Commissioners would agree to enable these neighborhoods to get a new system under a public/private partnership, Rhinehart said. If a majority of residents in neighborhood want or need a new water or sewer system, an engineer would study the issue, develop a cost estimate of the system and the county would determine a split of the costs for the Board of Commissioners to review, Rhinehart said. If the measure is approved by commissioners, property owners would get a lien put on their property until their portion of the cost for the upgrade is paid, Rhinehart said. For example, if the cost of upgrading an areas water or sewer system is $5,000 per lot, the county could agree to a 50/50 split of the cost. Property owners could then agree to accept a $2,500 property lien for a decade while the money is being paid off. The plan is not just for private water and sewer systems, Rhinehart said. In some cases, a community might have infrastructure problems in public systems and be dissatisfied with the countys Band-Aids. The property owners may want a new system instead of the Band-Aids, he said. We dont have a lot of these, Rhinehart said. Most of our neighborhoods were built to standards or builtin a way thats not difficult to maintain. The communities with this problem are not concentrated in a particular part of the county, but are here and there, he said.
CITY OF CHAMBLEE PUBLIC NOTICE Aninitialdraftcopyoftheproposed2013OperatingBudgetfortheCityofChamblee willbeavailableforreviewatCityHallonThursday,November15,2012. Acopyoftheproposed2013OperatingBudgetfortheCityofChamblee willbeavailableforreviewatCityHallonFriday,December7,2012. ApublichearingontheproposedbudgetwillbeheldonMonday, December10,2012at6:00p.m.intheCivicCenter,3540BroadStreet. Anypersonswishingtobeheardonthebudgetmayappearandbe heard. TheCityCouncilwilladoptthebudgetonTuesday,December18,2012. Themeetingwillbeginat7:30p.m.andwillbeheldintheCivicCenter, 3540BroadStreet.
Local News
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Green space will replace abandoned gas station on Columbia Drive

by Carla Parker carla@dekalbchamp.com A section of Columbia Drive will soon be getting a facelift. An abandoned gas station at 890 Columbia Drive, next door to the Friends School of Atlanta, will be demolished and turned into green space after the East Decatur Greenway acquired the title to the property on Nov. 6. The East Decatur Greenway is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve green space, build safe bicycle and walking paths, and promote environmental education in this densely populated part of DeKalb County. Michele Ritan, director of East Decatur Greenway, said the abandoned gas station and convenience store has been a public eyesore for more than a decade. Its covered with graffiti and the lot is overwhelmed by weeds and kudzu, she said. In addition, the property has environmental contamination of soil and groundwater. Thousands of people drive by this property every day, and its on the walk to school for children who attend the Friends School of Atlanta and the Waldorf School. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Brownfields program will conduct a Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) on the property. The TBA program is designed to offer local governments and some nonprofit organizations environmental assessments of brownfield properties without going through the longer competitive process of applying for the assessment grants, which are offered on an annual cycle. EPA will remove the three underground storage tanks and the the community eyesore into a place of beauty for current residents and future generations. Its a wonderful thing for the community and will be a big boost, she said. The project was in danger of being on hold because East Decatur Greenway originally had to wait
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 Brownfields program conducted a Targeted Brownfields Assessment on the abandoned gas station at 890 Columbia Drive. Photos provided
and will be a big boost.

slab of the former convenience store to conduct more accurate soil and groundwater sampling. They also plan to remove the kudzu, privet and wisteria; and introduce native plants, and protect the natural waterway that borders the property. The property, along with several adjacent small plots, will create more than two acres of green space that can be used by several local schools, the Forrest Hills and Midway Woods neighborhood associations, Columbia Presbyterian Church, Methodist Childrens Home and residents of the area. Ritan said the goal is to transform
for the community Its a wonderful thing

Michele Ritan
until January to acquire the property, which would have caused it to miss the deadline for the EPA to come in to do the TBA. If the group had not gotten the title in time it would have lost the grant money from the EPA. East Decatur Greenway secured the title in time with the help of state representatives Stephanie Stuckey Benfield and Karla Drenner, DeKalb County commissioners Kathie Gannon and Larry Johnson, and Sheriff Thomas Brown. Drenner said its important to get rid of the abandoned gas station because of the environmental problems it will cause with the leaky under-
ground storage tanks. The environmental problems with those only get worse over time, she said. Even though you may not know from a visual prospective, it would be just an eyesore, but its what happens underground that we should be concerned about because those gasoline products get caught up and spread pollution underneath the ground. Johnson said the residents have been working for years to clean up that area. Weve missed grant applications and deadlines and we finally were able to get the right nexus to make it happen, he said. So, Im just happy to get rid of one more eyesore and do something thats going to be positive for the community and build the unity that we try to build in that area. Waman French, head of the Friends School of Atlanta, said he is also happy East Decatur Greenway was successful in purchasing the property and turning it into a green space. Its going to improve our physical environment and clean up the deserted gas station, he said. We look forward to working with the neighborhood associations and East Decatur Greenway to help beautify the area. Ritan said the demolition will begin Nov. 26.
REUSE REDUCE RECYCLE
Former DeKalb Police officer killed in hit-andrun
News Briefs
Local News
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A second law enforcement officer residing in DeKalb County has been killed in the line of duty this month. Henry County Police Officer Elgin Daniel, an Ellenwood resident and former DeKalb County Police officer, was killed by a hitand-run driver late Nov. 5, according to police and news reports. Daniel, 53, and another driver stopped to assist a motorist whose car had run out of gas on North Henry Boulevard near Stockbridge. Daniel and the other driver, John Cook, a roadside assistance worker, were both struck by the hit-and-run driver. Daniel, who had worked for Henry County for two years, retired from the DeKalb County Police Department after 25 years. In a joint statement, DeKalbs Public Safety Director William Z. Miller and Interim Police Chief Lisa Gassner said, We would like to extend our condolences to the Daniel family and the Henry County Police Department on the tragic loss of Officer Elgin Daniel. Our
hearts are especially heavy since Elgin served honorably on the DeKalb County Police force for 25 years before retiring as a Lieutenant in 2010. He left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of his fellow officers. He will forever be remembered as a man who always encouraged others to challenge themselves and strive to live a life of excellence. On Nov. 3, a Lithonia man was one of two Atlanta Police officers killed Nov. 3 when their police helicopter crashed during a nighttime search for a missing 9-year-old boy. Officer Shawn A. Smiley, 40, of Lithonia, died on impact in the crash.
want to speak with the childs 19-year-old father, Keymon Jackson, to learn how it happened. Police say theyre searching for the father, whom they say is wanted on several charges related to the case, including reckless conduct, tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Lithonia to hold community Thanksgiving event

The city of Lithonia will hold its annual community Thanksgiving service on Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. at AntiochLithonia Missionary Baptist Church, 2152 Rock Chapel Road. Several churches, including Lithonia First United Methodist Church, Fishers of Men, First St. Paul AME Church, Higher Level Worship Church, will join for the service and dinner. For more information, contact (770) 482-8136.
DeKalb Police say father shot infant son

(AP) DeKalb County Police are searching for a father accused of shooting his infant son in the leg. Detectives said that the 5-month-old child is recovering at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta-Egleston. Police in DeKalb County said the shooting happened early morning on Nov. 4 at a home in an unincorporated part the county, south of Stone Mountain. Authorities said the circumstances of the shooting are unclear, and they
and fireworks will be held Nov. 23 in the historic village of Stone Mountain. Festivities run from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and includes bagpipers, the amphibious duck from Stone Mountain Park, classic cars and motorcycles, elves, merchant cars and floats, choir music and the Conundrums Womens Drumming group. Pony rides, marshmallow roasting and a letter writing station for letters to Santa will be available from 4-8 p.m. Santas arrival in the parade and the lighting of the tree are highlights before the fireworks extravaganza at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Susan Ryles, executive director of Stone Mountain Main Street and Downtown Development Authority at (770) 413-0607.
Churches seek to help to feed families

Big Miller Grove Baptist Church and Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church are joining forces to have a greater impact on sharing with needy families this Thanksgiving. For the first time in many years, our food pantry was totally emptied, said Pastor Richard C. Flippin of Greater Piney Grove. For over 15 years, we have provided this service to the community. We are slated to distribute over 300 food baskets on next Saturday (Nov. 17) beginning at 7 a.m. Those who would like to help can contact Pastor Chianti Mitchell at cmitchell@ pineygrovebapt.org or Flippin at rflippin@pineygrovebapt. org.
Stone Mountain Village to hold annual Christmas parade

The annual Stone Mountain Village Christmas parade
Explore
DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis reminds you of the Best Practices for Proper Disposal of
our unique boutiques and destination dining spots in the heart of DeKalb. Discover why Decatur is one of Southern Livings Top Ten Tastiest Towns!
for holiday happenings and hoopla!
Follow
F.O.G. enters plumbing through garbage disposals, sinks and toilets. It coats the inside of plumbing pipes and also empties into DeKalb Countys sewer system. Here are three simple guidelines to help keep F.O.G. out of our pipes and sewers:
(h u g e! )
Tre e
1. 2. 3.
POUR fats, oils or grease into a sealable container, allow it to cool and throw it in the trash. Do not pour down the drain or toilet. SCRAPE plates and cookware before washing. Do not throw scraps of any kind down the drain. Instead, place them in waste containers or garbage bags. WIPE excess grease from all plates, pots, pans, utensils, and surfaces with a paper towel before washing. Throw the greasy paper towel away.
R oo f of Little Sh op of St orie s
(regular size)
Santa
Plumbing and sanitary sewer systems are simply not designed to handle the F.O.G. that accumulates in pipes. When it gets into the pipes and hardens, blockages occur and cause sewage to backup and overflow out of manholes or into homes. This is expensive for you, and for the County. The damages caused by fats, oils and grease in the sewer system are costly to repair. Over time, they increase the costs of our water and sewer services.
Get Your Lights On!

November 29
Little Shop of Stories 133 E. Court Square Downtown Decatur
Advertising funded by the Decatur Craft Beer Festival.
Find out more at VisitDecaturGeorgia.com
decatur-champion-110812.indd 1
11/5/12 5:46 PM
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Holiday fair returns to Decatur school

In a longtime tradition that also is one of its biggest fundraisers of the year, the Waldorf School of Atlanta held its annual Holiday Fair Nov. 10. The event, held on the schools campus on Columbia Drive in Decatur, featured handcrafted items, food, music, puppet shows, the Enchantment Shop where children can shop without their parents, a gift mart and childrens activities such as jump rope making and candle dipping. Photos by Kathy Mitchell
County considers new top manager

by Andrew Cauthen andrew@dekalbchamp.com DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis wants to hire Fulton Countys manager for the top management position in DeKalb. Zachary L. Williams, the Fulton County manager since 2008, would take over the executive assistant position for the DeKalb County government if approved by the countys Board of Commissioners. Williams is being considered to replace the outgoing Richard Stogner, who has announce he will resign Jan. 4. Williams is an experienced public leader with over 20 years of progressive leadership and a demonstrated ability to achieve board goals and organizational results through effective personnel management and accountability, according to the resolution from Ellis office. He is a problem solver with strong written and oral communication skills who has consistently leveraged analytical capabilities to devise and implement innovative policies and procedures, the resolution stated. From 2004-2008, Williams worked as the assistant county administrator for Broward County, Fla. He has also worked as the assistant city manager for the city of Coral Gables from 20032004. Williams worked in Broward County from 1993 to 2003 in various roles including assistant to the county administrator, information systems and fixed assets manager, and assistant director/chief of staff for community services/emergency management. Williams earned a bachelors of science degree and master of public administration degree from California State University, Long Beach, in 1991 and 1994, respectively. As county manager for Fulton County, Georgia, Mr. Williams oversaw the operations of the largest county in Georgia serving nearly one million residents, employing over five thousand staff, and managing a budget of $1.2 billion, the resolution stated. After a 30-minute executive session during of its Nov. 13 meeting, the Board of Commissioners decided 6-1 to defer voting on Williams hiring until next Dec. 4. Commissioner Lee May said the Board of Commissioners is taking its time to make sure we are making the right decision for DeKalb County. The executive assistant is generally speaking, like a county manager, May said. This is the professional who would handle the day-to-day operations of the county. In DeKalbs form of government, the CEO makes a recommendation for the executive assistant position and the Board of Commissioners must approve it. The board received the CEOs recommendation for the first time on Nov. 6.
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Weve had a week that its been on our agenda, May said. Its being deferred just to hammer out some more details regarding the contract and some other concerns about this very important position. We take our time with this position because this is that person that makes sure that county services are rendered. This is the most important position that we have, May said. We want to deliberate and make sure we are making the right decision with right person under the right terms.
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 www.dekalbcountyga.gov.
The Champion Weather

Seven Day Forecast THURSDAY
Mostly Cloudy High: 54 Low: 42
Nov. 15, 2012

Today's Regional Map Weather History
Nov. 15, 1987 - Thunderstorms spawned 22 tornadoes in eastern Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. A tornado moving out of northeastern Texas killed one person and injured 96 others around Shreveport, La. This tornado also caused more than five million dollars in damage. Nov. 16, 1988 - A powerful low pressure system in the north central United States produced high winds across the Great Lakes region, with wind gusts to 60 mph reported at Chicago. Heavy snow blanketed much of Minnesota, with 11 inches reported at International Falls. Dunwoody 52/41 Lilburn Smyrna Doraville 53/42 53/42 53/42 Snellville Decatur 54/42 Atlanta 54/42 54/42 Lithonia College Park 55/42 55/42 Morrow 55/42 Union City 55/42 Hampton 56/43
In-Depth Local Forecast

Today we will see mostly cloudy skies with a high temperature of 54, humidity of 82%. Northeast wind 5 mph. The record high temperature for today is 79 set in 1993. Expect mostly cloudy skies tonight with an overnight low of 42. The record low for tonight is 19 set in 1969.
FRIDAY
Partly Cloudy High: 60 Low: 42
*Last Weeks Almanac

Hi Lo Normals Precip Date Tuesday 50 44 66/46 1.06" Wednesday 49 41 66/46 0.08" Thursday 62 36 66/46 0.00" Friday 68 32 65/45 0.00" Saturday 70 35 65/45 0.00" Sunday 67 40 65/45 0.00" Monday 68 47 64/44 0.00" Rainfall . . . . . . .1.14" Average temp . .50.6 Normal rainfall . .0.96" Average normal 55.3 Departure . . . . .+0.18" Departure . . . . .-4.7
*Data as reported from De Kalb-Peachtree Airport
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Mostly Sunny High: 59 Low: 40
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Partly Cloudy High: 58 Low: 44 First 11/20
Local Sun/Moon Chart This Week

Day Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Sunrise 7:09 a.m. 7:10 a.m. 7:11 a.m. 7:12 a.m. 7:13 a.m. 7:14 a.m. 7:15 a.m. Sunset 5:34 p.m. 5:34 p.m. 5:33 p.m. 5:33 p.m. 5:32 p.m. 5:32 p.m. 5:31 p.m. Moonrise 9:02 a.m. 10:02 a.m. 10:55 a.m. 11:41 a.m. 12:21 p.m. 12:57 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Moonset 7:29 p.m. 8:35 p.m. 9:42 p.m. 10:47 p.m. 11:50 p.m. Next Day 12:51 a.m. Last 12/6
Tonight's Planets
Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Rise 7:36 a.m. 4:37 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 6:40 p.m. 5:38 a.m. 3:09 p.m. Set 5:45 p.m. 4:05 p.m. 7:44 p.m. 8:51 a.m. 4:42 p.m. 3:23 a.m.
WEDNESDAY
Mostly Sunny High: 61 Low: 45 Full 11/28
New 12/13
Local UV Index
National Weather Summary This Week

The Northeast will see mostly clear to partly cloudy skies today through Saturday, with the highest temperature of 78 in Germantown, Md. The Southeast will see partly cloudy to cloudy skies with a few showers today through Saturday, with the highest temperature of 84 in Ft. Myers, Fla. The Northwest will see mostly clear to partly cloudy skies today, isolated showers Friday and Saturday, with the highest temperature of 62 in Colville, Wash. The Southwest will see mostly clear to partly cloudy skies today through Saturday, with the highest temperature of 83 in Gila Bend, Ariz.
Weather Trivia
What doesNOAA stand for?
0 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+
UV Index 0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate, 6-7: High, 8-10: Very High 11+: Extreme Exposure
Answer: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
www.WhatsOurWeather.com
StarWatch By Gary Becker - Leonids, This Week

The second of three great fall meteor showers, the Leonids, is now upon us, and this year, two periods of activity, the morning of Saturday, November 17 and just after midnight on the morning of Tuesday, November 20, are predicted. Leonid meteors in past years have looked like snowflakes raking across the chilled November sky. The outburst of 2001 for the East Coast saw bright meteors flashing the ground like strobe lights. All of this earlier activity was created by the return of the Leonids parent comet, Tempel-Tuttle, in late February of 1998 and the streams of dross which were shed from the comet on other earlier passages around the sun. This year, the meteor rates will be nothing like the events of a decade ago, but the US, especially the East Coast, is in the favored location to see Leonid activity on the order of 5-10 meteors per hour, peaking around 4:30 a.m. EST on the morning of November 17. The moon will have set early on the previous evening. Then there is the possibility of another slightly more significant but shorter outburst happening from the dust trail created by the comet in the year 1400. This will occur for the East Coast just after midnight on the morning of November 20. Rates are expected to be between 10-15 meteors per hour, but unfortunately, Leo will just be rising in the east, suppressing rates to probably less than half of this number. It gets progressively worse the farther west one goes. Europe is best posed to witness this uptick in meteor activity if it does occur. Observing meteors during late fall and throughout the winter months can be a real fight to stay warm. Once head, hands, or feet surrender to the cold, all is lost. The best advice is to bundle up, and then bundle up some more. Face east after 2 a.m., and look near the zenith. Fast meteors that seem to radiate from Leos head, also called the Sickle of the Lion (map online), will be Leonid meteors. www.astronomy.org
Local News
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Forensic audit offers information on DCSDs budget woes

by Daniel Beauregard daniel@dekalbchamp.com performed to provide more transparency so theres no reason why it wouldnt be A recent audit sheds light released. on the budget problems Although officials wont the DeKalb County School release the audit, it was District (DCSD) has faced leaked to WSBTV. The docin recent years ument reportedly but school offistates that during cials are refusFY 2010 and FY ing to release 2011, the salIm sure it will be released once theyve had an it. ary expenditures opportunity to read and understand its contents. of the district The findings of the Jeff Dickerson exceeded the audit, which budget by more were presented than $20 million at a Nov. 12 and $30 million DeKalb County School members are able to get up respectively. Board meeting, show that to speed on its contents. The document also states in 2010 and 2011, some of Im sure it will be rethat 150 central office perthe staff cuts ordered by the leased once theyve had sonnel cuts were ordered in board may not have been an opportunity to read and 2010 but DCSDs finance carried out. understand its contents, and human resources deJeff Dickerson, a Dickerson said. partments differ on the spokesman for DCSD, said Additionally, Dickerson number of those cuts actuhe wasnt in a position to stated that the audit was ally carried out. comment on the findings of the audit. He said he was confident that the forensic audit, performed by firm KPMG, will be released and posted on the districts website as soon as board
Robert Champion
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) An attorney for the family of a Florida A&M University drum major who died following a hazing incident said Nov. 8 that a $300,000 settlement offer from the school is insulting. The amount offered is the maximum amount the university can pay without seeking approval by the Florida Legislature. Attorney Chris Chestnut said the offer showed that the university wasnt serious about resolving the case with Robert Champions family. Chestnut wouldnt say what amount the family would consider acceptable. Three hundred thousand dollars is substantively low, Chestnut said. The schools settlement offer was made less than a week after efforts at all-day mediation failed in Orlando. It is our hope that this settlement will be accepted and can in some way help in the healing process for the Champion family and the entire FAMU community, said Richard Mitchell, an attorney for FAMU. Champion, a graduate of Southwest DeKalb High School, died nearly a year ago after being beaten by fellow band members aboard a bus parked outside an Orlando hotel. Champions parents filed a lawsuit contending university officials did not take action to stop hazing even though a school dean proposed suspending the famed Marching 100 band just days before their son died. The lawsuit also alleges that school officials fell short in enforcing anti-hazing policies. Larry Robinson,
FAMUs interim president, would not comment directly on the offer. We are in negotiations and we are working with our legal team to move this matter forward, said Robinson, who was in Sarasota attending a meeting of the state board that oversees the university system. In September FAMU asked a judge to throw out the Champion lawsuit. That court filing said the lawsuit should be dismissed on several grounds, including that Champion should have refused to participate in hazing events and should have reported it to police. The university also said at the time that taxpayers should not be held liable for Champions decision. The scandal surrounding Champions death continues to haunt the school. The band has been suspended for the academic year, and the longtime band director and university president have resigned. The Florida Board of Governors is expected this month to release the results of a yearlong probe into whether top university officials ignored warnings about hazing. The first of more than a dozen defendants charged in Champions death last month entered a plea of no contest to third-degree felony hazing. Ten other FAMU band members face felony hazing charges, while two others face misdemeanor counts for alleged roles in Champions hazing University officials have responded by putting in a long line of new policies, including new requirements for band membership and new requirements for all students at the school.
TheCityofClarkstonProposed2013BudgetwillbeavailabletoviewontheClarkstonCityWebsite
NoticeofavailabilityofProposed2013Budget,BudgetPublicHearingand 2013BudgetAdoption ClarkstonCityCouncil
(www.cityofclarkston.com)andcopiestoviewwillbeavailableattheClarkstonCityHallandthe ClarkstonPublicLibraryonNovember6,2012.TheClarkstonCouncilwillholdaPublicHearingson Tuesday,November27,2012,startingat6:30pm,attheClarkstonCityHall,3921ChurchStreetforthe purposeoftakingpubliccommentonthe2013ProposedCityofClarkstonBudget.TheCouncilwillvote toadopttheClarkston2013BudgetattheirregularCouncilMeetingonDecember4,2012at6:30pm. Thepublicisinvitedtoattend.
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Owner Ali Parsa, photo at left, who was first to place Checkers restaurants inside malls, said he likes the excitement and security at a mall. Parsa recently opened a Checkers in the Mall at Stonecrest. Photos by Kathy Mitchell
Checkers comes to the Mall at Stonecrest

by Kathy Mitchell kathy@dekalbchamp.com Ali Parsa came to Georgia from his native Iran in the 1970s in pursuit of a civil engineering degree. He took a job in a fast food restaurant to support himself while he was in school. Two things happened that changed his life. A 1979 revolution resulted in the overthrow of the shah of Iran, making it unsafe for many Iranian nationals such as Parsa to return to their country. Parsa also discovered that he loves the restaurant business. I enjoy dealing with people, meeting people, making customers happy, he said. Parsa switched his major to business and launched a career in which he has managed and owned several fast food franchises. When a hamburger restaurants he was managing closed because the chain went public and changed its national business model, Parsa started looking around for a new franchise. He settled on Checkers, a fastfood hamburger chain start-
ed 25 years ago in Tampa, Fla., that in 1999 merged with Rallys bringing the number of restaurant to al-
Silva, whom he had known at another hamburger chain. I really like and respect this man. He was someone
People are used to seeing drive-through Checkers restaurants, but theyre surprised and delighted to find one in the mall. They ask, Is this really a Checkers? Is it the same menu?
Ali Parsa
most 800 nationwide. Parsa said two things made him want to work with Checkers. He discovered that the chief executive officer at Checkers is Rick
I was excited to be working with again. Also, he said, I really love the food. We have the best burgers in the business and the best fries in
the business. Were known as a hamburger restaurant, but we also have hot dogs, chicken wingsand its all great. Parsa said he also feels Checkers restaurants give customers good value. If you have just a little change in your pocket, you can still get something to eat. Thats important during tough times, he said. Checkers is known for its stand-alone double drivethrough restaurants, but Parsa went in a different direction. He became the first franchisee to open a Checkers unit inside a mall. He has threeone in Lenox Mall, one in Peachtree Center Mall and now one in the food court at the Mall at Stonecrest. The Stonecrest location has been open for two weeks and Parsa said of its success, so far, so good. He said he waited a long time for a Stonecrest location to open up. This is a great area. There are so many young families with children. This is one of the best malls in the Atlanta area. People drive from oth-
er parts of the metro Atlanta area to shop here. There are five anchor stores and a huge movie theater. Its really the place to go, especially on weekends. People are used to seeing drive-through Checkers restaurants, Parsa said, but theyre surprised and delighted to find one in the mall. They ask, Is this really a Checkers? Is it the same menu? Parsa said people often ask him why he prefers establishing restaurants inside malls even though the rent is higher and the mall controls the hours. I like the safety of being in a mall, he said. Every mall has security. I dont have to worry about someone bothering my customers. I dont have to worry about my employees walking out to a dark parking lot at the end of a shift. He said heavy traffic at the mall means dozens of people will always be walking by. People already know and like the Checkers brand, and like the option of being able to choose it at the mall.
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Education
Page 16A
Autumn Smith and her mother Rae Anne Harkness stand in front Smiths school Ivy Preparatory Academy, a DeKalb County public charter school. Smith became a vocal supporter of Amendment I, which allows the state to authorize charter schools, after she attended a legislative meeting. Photos by Daniel Beauregard
Student perseveres to make her voice heard during charter debate

by Daniel Beauregard daniel@dekalbchamp.com In the recent Nov. 6 election Georgia voters passed Amendment 1, which allows the state to authorize charter schools that have been denied by local school boards. During the contentious debate supporters and opponents of the amendment spoke out about the issues facing Georgias students, including Autumn Smith, a seventh-grader at DeKalb County charter school Ivy Preparatory Academy. I attended a Black Caucus meeting and I didnt like how the adults were acting toward each other, Smith said. Smith had been invited to speak at the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Annual Conference. While she was on the podium speaking, Smith said a woman was reading over her shoulder and telling her not to ask certain questions. She also said the moderator continually cut other speakers off. Me being a child, I thought they were going to listen, Smith said. When my friends and I talk we definitely argue but its a lot more respectful than what I saw in that room that night. Smith decided to write a letter about her experience at the meeting, which was eventually published. She was later featured in an ad supporting the amendment, where she read from the same letter. What she said in her ad came
Smith is reading a letter she wrote in support of charter schools to legislators and is being recorded for a radio commercial in support of Amendment I. Photo provided
directly from her words, said Rae Anne Harkness, Smiths mother. It was all adults fighting and we were tired of the kids not having anything to do with it. Harkness said the charter school battle has completely changed both her and her daughters life. During the time leading up to the elections, Harkness said she saw the best and the worst of people but always tried to remain positive. I have seen the dark side in the people fighting against this that will do anything and say anything, Harkness said.
Every time we took children down to the capitol someone was always criticizing that and saying, They should be in school, they cant do this; but its about them and they learned more doing that then they would in a classroom, Harkness said. There is still a legislative process that must take place before the state will be allowed to authorize and fund charter schools but Smith said she is just glad the amendment passed. Right now Im happy because Im in a great school and things are going good. But, I get concerned
about the people around me because the kids in my neighborhood dont have an equal opportunity like me, Smith said. Smith is zoned to attend Clifton Elementary School and Columbia Middle School. In her letter, Smith said she lives in a neighborhood where the behavior, education and parent resources arent up to the standards she has been taught to expect. Thats not going to change and theyre just going to pass that on to their kids, Smith said. I wish we could just change the culture in the public schools but thats not going to happen. At Ivy Prep, which is located off Memorial Drive, Smith said all of her teachers are extremely involved, unlike those at her previous schools. Here you can email themyou can call their cellphones and if you need to contact your teacher about a questionno matter how small it istheyre there for you, Smith said. Smith said that after the letter she wrote was published, it made her more passionate about her school and her desire to be heard. She said it took a lot of perseverance but believes that people really want to hear what children think about the education system. If youre struggling, write about your school and you never know what might happen. If youre scared to speak you can writetheres always a way, Smith said.
Education
Page 17A
Startup charter to include students with, and without, autism in classroom

by Daniel Beauregard daniel@dekalbchamp.com Devon Christopher said her 9-year-old son is extremely bright but because he has Aspergers disorder its difficult for him to be in a traditional classroom setting. Aspergers is an autism spectrum disorder, which means her son has difficulty with social integration and has sensory issues. Many of these children are quite bright but just have some problems with some of the social norms, Christopher said. Christophers son recently started middle school at Evansdale Elementary. She said since the school is so large, its difficult for him to get from class to class; she also said he spends much of his day in a resource type class. I started looking at private school options and there are no inclusive private school options, Christopher said. What Christopher means by inclusive is a school that teaches students with and without autism in the same classroom setting. She said currently, there isnt a school that offers that type of education in Georgia.
Were not going to be teaching any different information than you would find in a normal public school, Christopher said, and
I started looking at private school options and there are no inclusive private school options.
Devon Christopher
studies have shown that inclusion is really the best option. DeKalb has traditionally done a very good job of inclusion but they stop at fifth grade. While Christopher was talking with several of her friends about concerns one friend whos affiliated with the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) suggested that
she explore the option of creating a charter school. I sent out a flyer asking if anybody was interested in talking about this and I started fielding calls; I probably talked to well over 100 people, Christopher said. When she noticed there was a need for such a school in DeKalb County, Christopher and others formed a nonprofit board and sent a letter of intent to create Tapestry Charter School to the DeKalb County School District (DCSD). Weve had in-depth conversations with every board member and even the ones that arent typically for charter schools havent given us any pushback, Christopher said. According to Christopher, current data shows that one out of 88 children is diagnosed with autism and one in every 54 boys; she said the numbers have drastically increased over the past decades. The kids learn differently and the statistics are horrible in terms of successonly one in three wind up having a job, Christopher said. The GCSA gave the board a meeting place and it is now in the process of developing a curriculum and a charter petition to submit to DCSD. Christopher said the board
is partnering with several universities including Kennesaw State University and the University of West Georgia to develop the curriculum. Members of the Tapestry Charter School board will speak during the public comments portion of the next DeKalb County School Board meeting. Christopher also said that The Tapestry Band is in the process of looking for a facility to house the middle school, which will add a grade each year and offer an open lottery enrollment. Originally, Christopher said she and the other cofounders looked at some of DCSDs vacant buildings such as the old Heritage Elementary School, but most either need too much work or have already been offered to another school. What were looking at now are vacant church buildings and our hope is well have something hammered out by the first of the year, Christopher said. Hopefully well get the support of the school board in doing this. Tapestry Charter School is hosting its first fundraiser on Dec. 3 from 7:30 - 9 p.m. at Napoleons Grill, located at 2836 LaVista Road in Decatur.
Astronomy professor awarded NSF grant for student research
Education Briefs
of massive star formation can be viewed with radio frequency telescopes like the VLA, De Pree said.
Chris De Pree, Agnes Scott professor of astronomy, has been awarded a National Science Foundation research grant for $200,000 to study the formation of massive stars. Students are an integral part of the research plan, a press release from the college states. The grant will support the analysis of data from the Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope in New Mexico and provides funds for students to conduct research during the school year and over the summer. With the help of students, De Pree is working to understand the environments of young massive stars in Sagittarius B2, a region close to the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. Giant clouds of gas and dust in Sagittarius B2 block the view of traditional optical telescopes but the hidden regions
DCSD gets new school buses

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will be adding 49 new buses to its fleet this year, with no impact on the districts general budget. The buses, which hold 72 passengers each, were paid for with funds from the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission. The DeKalb County School Board voted in October to purchase the buses. Currently, DCSD maintains a fleet of more than 850 buses. According to a press release from the district, DCSD buses travel 11 million miles each year, transporting 62,000 students each day. The total cost of the buses, which were purchased from Yancey Bus Sales, is $3.7 million.
Page 18A
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Local News
Page 19A
District 92 State Representative elect Tonya Peterson Anderson waves to the crowd during Lithonias Inaugural Veterans Day parade. Photos by Carla Parker Stone Mountain High School marching band entertains the crowd at the Veterans Day parade.
Col. Brent Bracewell, director of the Joint Staff of the Georgia National Guard, gives the keynote address at the Celebration of Living and Fallen Veterans ceremony at the Lithonias historic Bruce Street African American Cemetery.
Veterans
Continued From Page 1A
the generation before me. We should never take for granted the freedom weve got, Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson also recognized the sacrifice veterans in fighting for America, but also noted that the country must find other ways to resolve differences without war. I believe that we must find a way, as they say in the old Negro spiritual, to study war no more, she said. We owe it to those who already made the sacrifice to resolve differences and conflicts without resorting to war. The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of the Lithonia African American Cemetery memorial, where the names of the veterans will be engraved. Lester said she was very pleased with the outcome of the event. The main thing that impressed me was the young people and their attentiveness, she said. Its really important that the young people know and understand the history to pass along to the next generation.
The Lithonia Community Choir sings a selection at the Celebration of Living and Fallen Veterans ceremony at the Lithonias historic Bruce Street African American Cemetery.
The Celebration of Living and Fallen Veterans ceremony was attended by hundreds of students, veterans, state and local officials, and Lithonia residents.
Sports
Page 20A
... Im a father figure, Im a brother figure, Im a friend and then Im a coach.

Reggie Ball
Johnathon McCrary
McCrary moves into third on Georgia career passing list

by Mark Brock Cedar Grove senior quarterback Johnathon McCrary threw for 227 yards in the Saints 47-14 win over No. 8 ranked Woodward Academy on Nov. 2 to move into third on the Georgia High School Career Passing charts. McCrary, a Vanderbilt University commitment, has 8,453 career passing yards and trails only DeKalb County leader Jonquel Dawson of Martin Luther King Jr. (8,798) and Metters Zach Stanford (9,086) on the Georgia list compiled by the Georgia Football Historians Association. Cedar Grove has two games to play including a first round playoff in which McCrary needs a total of 346 yards to surpass Dawson as the DeKalb County leader in career passing yardage. He currently sits three times in the top in four DeKalb County single season passing categories, including passing yards, completion percentage, completions and touchdown passes. He is on pace to break his own completion percentage record of 68.5 set a year ago with a 74.4 rate in 2012.
Reggie Ball: from player to coach

Photo by Travis Hudgons
by Carla Parker carla@dekalbchamp.com
n 2002, Stephenson High School senior quarterback Reggie Ball was a star player that passed more than 2,000 yards with 19 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Now, that star player is on the sidelines as the offensive coordinator for the Stephenson Jaguars, coaching quarterback Justin Holman and the wide receivers on some of the same fundamentals he had learned as a player. This season is Balls first as a full-time coach at Stephenson. In the past, Ball would come back occasionally to volunteer and give tips to the players. Every time I had free time whether I was in Detroit playing ball with the Lionseven at [Georgia] Techevery time I had free time I would come back and teach what I could, Ball said. Coach what I could and brush up on any type of fundamentals that I could. After graduating from Stephenson in 2003, Ball played at Georgia Tech where he became the first true freshman to start at quarterback since Stu Rogers in 1980. He was named ACC Rookie of the Year and ended his college career with a total of 8,128 passing yards, 57 touchdown passes and 9,579 total yards of offense in his career. Ball tried out as a wide receiver at the 2007 NFL Combine, a weeklong showcase where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of NFL coaches, general managers and scouts. Ball was not selected during the
2007 NFL draft, but was signed by the Detroit Lions, auditioning for a role as a wide receiver and kick returner. He didnt make the final cut, but was re-signed to the practice squad on Dec. 5, 2007. He was released by the Lions on March 18, 2009. Ball was still volunteering with the Jaguars football program during his playing career before Stephenson head coach Ron Gartrell offered him a full-time position. Coach Gartrell and I have an understanding, he said. He gives me leeway to basically do what I want but thats not given to me. I definitely had to earn that on and off the field when I was here and when I left. Ball said coming back to Stephenson as a coach is a blessing. Its a blessing to still even have the program still intact, he said. Because with a lot of high school programs theyre two years, three years and theyre done. Stephenson has been at it for almost 15 years now, ever since this school opened. Gartrell and his staff has been at Stephenson since the school opened in 1998 and has 141 wins. The Jaguars have been a playoff team throughout its existence and region champions in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2006, the team advanced to the state semi-finals at the Georgia Dome for the first time. Like Ball, in the program have gone on many players to play at the college level and professional level. Currently, more than 40 Stephenson football players have college scholarships and at least 10 players currently play at a Division I school.
Were lucky enough to have the same core of coaches and the same core of people around the system to keep intact, Ball said. Thats nothing but praises to coach Gartrell, to [assistant] coach [Donald] Sellers, and everybody else who has allowed them to keep the program intact. Ball said he never really thought about coaching after his playing career ended. He had a small stint in the entertainment industry before coaching full time. I kind of wanted to get away from football just to see what else is out there, he said. But that quickly went away when I was honest with myself and let myself know that football was my love. Ball said he views the game differently as a coach than he did as a player because he is more of a role model to the players. Its different because Im a father figure, Im a brother figure, Im a friend and then Im a coach, he said. A lot of the players are not fortunate enough to even have fathers at home. And even with the kids that do have fathers you still step into that father-like role because I see these kids more than I see my fianc and we stay together. Ball said he told his players from day one that the biggest thing that they will learn from him doesnt apply to the game of football. The biggest thing for them to realize is that the game is a practice field for life, he said. And all these things I try to instill in them as far as finishing plays, being on time and giving everything you got, thats going to carry on, not just on the football field, but into whatever you want to do in life.
Sports
Page 21A
Arabia Mountain finishes season on high note with win over Lakeside
by Carla Parker carla@dekalbchamp.com The Arabia Mountain Rams are not heading to the playoffs but they had a lot to celebrate Nov. 10 after getting their fourth win of the season. The Rams (4-6) defeated the Lakeside Vikings (1-9) 39-14 at Adams Stadium. The Rams came out scoring in the opening kickoff with a return for a touchdown by running back Jonathan Jones. Lakeside got down the field quickly on its first possession with plays by Bradley Earnest, who ran for a first down on third and two, and by quarterback Nick Alexander, who connected with wide receiver Adonis Thomas on a 20-yard pass. The Vikings had a touchdown call back after both teams committed a penalty. Both teams were heavily penalized during the game. Arabia Mountain had a total of 17 penalties and Lakeside had nine. The Rams had three touchdowns called back because of penalties. Arabia Mountain assistant coach Willie Truitt couldnt explain why his team kept committing so many errors that led to penalties. I dont know if its because its a Saturday game or the long week off, he said. I dont like being penalized. Thats discipline. After the double penalty, Alexanders next pass was intercepted in the end zone by Rams defensive back Zanny Ransom. The Rams went up 13-0 in the second quarter after quarterback Trevous Reynolds connected with wide receiver Gregory Phillips on a touchdown pass. Lakeside came back to close the gap to 13-7 with a trick play on a reverse by receiver Kyle Smith, who threw the ball to a wide open Addison Wooten. Arabia Mountain came back with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Reynolds to Phillips to go up 19-7. But the Vikings came right back when running back Kellyen Walker returned the kickoff for a touchdown to shorten the Rams lead again to 19-14. On the Rams first possession in the third quarter, a touchdown run by Jones was called back because of a block in the back penalty. But they got in the end zone again with a pass from Reynolds to wide receiver Jonathan Slaton to go up 25-14. The Rams got on the scoreboard again in the fourth quarter with a quick toss to running back Michael Holloway, who ran it in the end zone from 10 yards out. Arabia Mountain scored again on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Reynolds to Jones. Despite all the penalties, Truitt was proud of the way his team played, specifically the defense. From a [defensive] line stand point we were very physical, he said. The defense played all around all night. They flew to the ball and they did what we asked them to do.
The St. Pius X Golden Lions come together prior to the start of the game. Photos by Travis Hudgons
St. Pius X wins region after defeating Decatur

by Carla Parker carla@dekalbchamp.com The St. Pius X Golden Lions are Region 6-AAA champions after shutting out the Decatur Bulldogs 48-0 on Nov. 9. The win gave St. Pius X (8-2) its first back-to-back region championship, a first in school history. The Golden Lions are in the playoffs again and will face Dawson County High School on Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Decatur (5-5) will miss the playoffs for the second season in a row. St. Pius X head coach Paul Standard said he was proud of the way his players competed and is looking forward to the playoff. Everybody is 0-0 now. Doesnt matter what your record is, he said. Weve got to get ready and work on fundamentals and just keep working to get better every week. The game started off as a defensive battle for both teams. Each team had some nice plays on offense but couldnt get into the end zone. Decatur got in the red zone early in the second quarter and tried to score on a fourth down attempt. But, Decatur quarterback Devontae Carter was sacked by defensive end Chandler Cooper. St. Pius X got the ball back and scored its first touchdown of the game with a trick play to put the score at 6-0. Fullback Ryan Braswell was handed the ball and faked it as though it had been a run play but, he passed the ball to a wide open Matt Pearson for the touchdown. Decatur had trouble snapping the ball correctly, which caused the team to lose yardage and punt the ball back to St. Pius X. The Golden Lions were up 13-0 before halftime after quarterback Jack Spear connected with running back Branden Mitchell for a touchdown. Standard credited Decatur for stopping his teams running game in the first half.
Michael Sikorski, left, makes a reception that would lead to a St. Pius X touchdown.
[Decatur] did a great job earlier in the game by putting 11 men on the line of scrimmage, he said. We had to go to our play action passing and we were able to get behind them. I think that loosened us up a bit. St. Pius X kept the ball rolling in the third quarter with a touchdown run by Braswell to bring the score to 20-0. Spear also got a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, which widened the Golden Lions lead to 27-0. Decaturs offense continued to struggle with snapping the ball correctly. One bad snap cost them 20 yards and the Bulldogs were faced with a third and 36. Decatur didnt convert the first down and had to punt. The Bulldogs did get some momentum on the next drive when
they recovered a Spear fumble. But, Carter was sacked for a big loss and the Bulldogs had to punt the ball back to St. Pius X. The Golden Lions didnt let up in the fourth quarter. A big pass play from Spear to wide receiver Jack McIntyre led to a touchdown run by running back Kevin OToole to go up 34-0. Decatur was stopped again on a fourth down play on its following drive, giving St. Pius X good field position. A couple of plays later, backup quarterback Joey Conners ran in to the end zone 9 yards out to give St. Pius X a 41-0 lead. The defense also put points on the scoreboard when defensive back Harris Woodward recovered a Decatur fumble in the end zone, giving St. Pius X its 48-0 final score.
Sports
Page 22A
Five DeKalb teams advance to state playoffs this weekend

edar Grove, Martin Luther King Jr., Southwest DeKalb, Stephenson and Tucker are preparing for state playoff games this weekend. Cedar Grove (6-4), after a 28-22 loses to Blessed Trinity last week, is headed to Buford in a Class AAA first-round contest. The Saints are led by quarterback Johnathon McCrary who is looking to break the DeKalb County career passing mark of Martin Luther Kings Jonquel Dawson. Cedar Grove is making its third consecutive playoff appearance under head coach Ray Bonner after going 10 seasons (2000-2009) without a playoff appearance. The Saints made the quarterfinals in 2010. Buford (7-3) is coming off a final regular season win of 45-16 to North Hall. The other four teams are competing for the Class AAAAA state title as first round action begins on Nov. 16. No. 2 ranked Martin Luther King Jr. (10-0) entered the state playoffs undefeated for the second consecutive season and will host Sequoyah (7-3) Nov. 16 night at Hallford Stadium in a 7:30 p.m. game. Coach Rober Freemans Lions preserved their perfect 2012 season with a thrilling 21-14 overtime victory over Miller Grove Nov. 9. It is the third time in the 10-year history of the program the team finished 10-0 in the regular season as the Lions also went 10-0 in 2007 (coach
Tucker Tigers
Photos by Travis Hudgons
Southwest DeKalb Panthers
Cory Jarvis) and 2011(coach Mike Carson). The playoff appearance is the ninth consecutive for the Lions, whose only non-playoff appearance came in the programs first year of existence in 2003.
Sequoyah has won five in a row since a 2-3 start this season and is coached by former Dunwoody head coach James Teter, who will return to DeKalb to face the undefeated Lions. The No. 9 ranked Stephenson
Jaguars (7-2) will play host to Pope (7-3) on Nov. 17 at Hallford with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. Coach Ron Gartrells Jaguars are making their 13th consecutive trip to the state playoffs and looking to break a three-year string of first round losses. Pope has won seven of its last eight games, including a 31-28 win over Northview Nov. 9. The Tucker Tigers (8-2) go on the road in the first round of the state playoffs as the No. 3 seed out of Region 6 to take on Region 7 No. 2 seed Creekview (9-1) Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. First year coach Bryan Lamar has the No. 5 ranked Tigers making their sixth consecutive trip to the state playoffs, including state titles in 2008 and 2011. Creekview has won seven games in a row since a four-point loss to Kell in September. Southwest DeKalb (7-3) goes on the road to Region 7 No. 1 seed Kell (9-1) Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the first round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs. Coach Buck Godfreys Panthers extended their playoff streak to five with their 33-12 win over Dunwoody Nov. 9. Godfrey and his Panther program had a string of 18 consecutive playoff appearances from 1986 to 2003. Kell, ranked sixth in Class AAAAA, has won seven in a row since losing to Class AAAAAA Lassiter 42-13 in the third week of the season.
Lady Wildcats capture Class AAAAA cross country title

ern was 16th in 20:54.69. Lakesides Victoria Thompson Thirty years had passed since was 21st in 21:16.48 to keep the a girls team from DeKalb County Lady Vikings in striking distance. Schools won a cross country state tiErin Berger moved Dunwoody tle, but Dunwoody ended the streak one spot closer to the title as she by capturing the Class AAAAA crossed 25th with a time of 21:21.83 state crown on Nov. 9 at Carrollton. and Kenzie Johnson sealed the Junior Alex Cameron finished Lady Wildcats first-ever state title third in the 2010 and 2011 Class by taking 41st overall in 21:46.20. AAAA state meets, but broke Other Dunwoody finishers through for the individual title this include Ann-Marie Sills in 49th season with a time of 19:49.96 to (21:59.70) and Jennifer Hardister lead the Lady Wildcats to an 86-135 in 91st (22:50.89). victory over fellow DeKalb County Lakesides Taylor Bergstrom entry Lakeside. crossed 55th (22:04.47) followed The last girls team victory came by Shannon Hagopian in 60th by Gordon in 1982 with a 44-48 place (22:11.26), Emma Gray in win over Westminster that fall. It is 62nd place (22:17.93) and Carsen also only the fourth girls title for Pastirik in 116th place (23:21.89). DeKalb with only Chamblee (1981) Tucker finished 24th in the team and Peachtree (1979) owning state standings in its first girls state aptitles. pearance since 1989 led by Naima Lakeside, getting its 21st Top Jacksons 31st place finish in 10 finish, was right on Dunwoodys 21:28.81. heels as Jenn Cora (20:08.96) and The Lakeside Vikings finished Hayley Keadey (20:12.54) finished sixth in the Class AAAAA boys second and third, respectively. state meet to pick up the teams 31st Kailey Williams cruised across Top 10 finish. Davis Stockwell led the finish line in 20:15.67 to take the Vikings by finishing 18th overall fourth overall while Ansley Heavin 17:32.57. by Mark Brock Abay in a time of 17:09.30. Chamblee was 16th and Redan came in 25th in the boys standings. Chamblees Semere Araya was 36th in 18:07.64 and Redans Cedric Roberts was 78th in 18:46.60 to lead their respective teams. The Redan Lady Raiders picked up a 15th place finish overall and Chamblee took 21st in the girls state meet. Maddy Wetterhall of ChamClass AAAAAA blee was the top DeKalb finisher in Druid Hills picked up a pair a time of 21:24.41 good for 22nd of Top 25 finishes in the Class overall while Redan was led by AAAAAA state meet led by the Red Destiny Reid in 62nd with a time of Devils 16th place finish in the boys 23:09.56. race. Ray Lumb led the way for Dru- Class AAA id Hills finishing 54th place overall The only entry for DeKalb in with a time of 17:51.74. Class AAA was the Cross Keys The girls squad was 25th overIndians who made their second apall led by Anna Dowlings finish pearance at the state meet in three of 126th place overall in a time of seasons and came away with a 12th 23:06.23. place team finish. Juan Garcia led the way with Class AAAA a time of 18:31.35 good for 45th Stone Mountain led the DeKalb overall as the Indians had four runboys contingent in Class AAAA ners in the top 90 of the 213 particiwith a 13th place finish behind a pants. top 10 finish of ninth place by Abel Dunwoody was 12th overall led by Blake Tiedes 50th place finish in 18:21.45 followed by Clarkston in 19th and Southwest DeKalb in 20th losing out a place to Clarkston on a sixth runner tie-breaker. Leiso Tumbo led Clarkston with a time of 17:54.46 good for 28th place while Southwest DeKalbs Jacques Williams took 25th place in 17:50.03 to lead the Panthers.
Sports
Page 23A
Lithonia defeats Stephenson 12-8 for Trail to the Title championship
Lithonias Courtney Lott (21) was named Most Valuable Player with 76 yards rushing on nine attempts, finished off the drive with a 19yard touchdown run.
by Mark Brock he Lithonia Bulldogs concluded an improbable run to the Trail to the Title middle school football championship with a 12-8 victory over defending champion Stephenson Jaguars. A big fourth-and-goal stop of Stephenson quarterback Xavier Shepard by the Lithonia defense with the Jaguars threatening to score the winning touchdown inside the Lithonia 10 with less than two minutes to play put the finishing touches on the Bulldogs 12-8 championship victory. Lithonia (8-2) opened the title game by taking the opening possession and driving 63 yards in 12 plays culminating with a two-yard touchdown run by Kamrie Mullins with 3:32 remaining in the first quarter. The two-point conversion was no good and the lead stood at 6-0 in favor of Lithonia. The defending champion Jaguars (8-2) drove to the Lithonia 19-yard line where the drive stalled on downs when Lithonias Addison Ford stopped Shepard for a loss. Stephenson defensive lineman Khalil Robinson stepped up on Lithonias next drive after Lithonia running backs Courtney Lott and Deonte Jones had first down runs of 12 and 13 yards, respectively. Robinson had a tackle for a loss on third down and then was the lead tackler on the stop of Lithonias fake punt attempt to force the turnover on downs. The Jaguars drove into Lithonia territory again mostly on the back of a 26-yard pass play from Shepard to Eric Ross. The drive came up short of a score as a pair of penalties and an incomplete pass lead to a turnover on downs. Lithonia then ran out the rest of the first half to take the 6-0 lead into the locker room. Stephenson opened the second half riding the arm of Shepard as he connected for
two first downs to Keiontay Davis and then a 15-yard completion to Tariq Ricks setting up a first down at the Lithonia 11. Shepard ran it in from 11 yards out, but a holding penalty nullified the touchdown. Lithonia gave the Jaguars new life as a roughing the passer call on fourth down set the Jaguars up at the Bulldog six. Big Jaguar fullback Edwin Baker went the final six yards for the touchdown and then tacked on the two-point conversion to give Stephenson an 8-6 lead with the third quarter winding down. The Bulldogs went back to the run using Lott, Mullins and Jones driving to the Stephenson 19 with just over five minutes to play. Lott, the games Most Valuable Player (MVP) with 76 yards rushing on nine attempts, finished off the drive with a 19-yard touchdown run to give Lithonia the 12-8 advantage with less than five minutes to play in the game. Following the kickoff, the Jaguars went back to the running game with Baker and Shephard driving to the Lithonia 11 as the clock ticked under two minutes. Lithonias defense then stood its ground forcing a loss, an incomplete pass, a no gain and then the big stop on Shepard to seal the victory. Stephensons Khalil Robinson, who played a key role in stopping a potential scoring drive for the Bulldogs to take a two score lead was named the games Defensive MVP. The Bulldogs, the No. 3 seed from Region 3, reached the finals for just the second time in the eight-year history of the Trail to the Title playoffs. Lithonia defeated Tucker 28-12 in the opening round, Cedar Grove 26-6 in the second round and Salem 32-20 in the semifinals in advancing to the title game. The Bulldogs first title appearance was a 28-12 loss to Avondale in the 2007 title game.
The Lithonia Bulldogs players and coaches celebrate their victory over the Stephenson Jaguars in their first Trail to the Title middle school football championship. Photos by Travis Hudgons
#DEKALB #sports Big upset in high school football tonight. Miller #Events Grove defeats Stephenson 32-29
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Parks & Cultural Affairs to Host Field of Screams
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Page 24A
Chef Erika Davis

Exclusive Pastry Chef | Jacksonville, FL
I add a little bit of sweetness to everything I cook. And the smell of this cake coming out of the ovenits like love! In my family, we always nd a way to get together over the holidays and on Sundays. Thats why Im happy to share this and other recipes so you can sweeten up your family celebrations too. And Publix makes it even easier to make sure the food on the table is a celebration of love for family.
Chef Erikas Chocolate Gingerbread Cake & Fresh Vanilla Whipped Cream
Pictured
Thanksgiving Holiday Store Hours: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 - Regular Hours | Thursday, November 22, 2012 - Closed
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