FALL BACK: Set clocks back 1 hour on Nov.
Some school board incumbents reseated
by Pureterrah Witcher
pureterrah@dekalbchamp.com
Unreflective of
recent controversial
behavior by some
board members, vot-
ers from several dis- Redovian
tricts in DeKalb sent
candidates back for a late Tuesday night,
second or third team. three of the five seats
At press time up for grabs on the
Johnson up to the challenge in District 4
by Andrew Cauthen
Two-term Democratic Con-
gressman Henry “Hank” John-
son was re-elected to a third
term serving Georgia’s 4th Con-
gressional District, defeating
political newcomer Republican
Lisbeth “Liz” Carter.
Johnson, who was endorsed
by President Barak Obama, gar-
nered 73 percent of the votes to
Carter’s 27 percent.
Johnson is a member of the
Transportation, Armed Services
and Judiciary Committees. He
is the chairman of the Judiciary
Subcommittee that is responsible
for antitrust legislation and over-
sees administration of the federal
courts.
Before going to Congress,
Johnson served 12 years as a
DeKalb County magistrate judge,
and five years as a county com-
missioner. Johnson also prac-
ticed civil and criminal law in
DeKalb County for 27 years. The
congressman is married to Attor-
ney Mereda Davis Johnson and
has two children.
Johnson gained national at-
tention earlier this year with a
well-publicized comment about
Guam that he made during a
House Armed Service Commit-
tee hearing. During the hear-
ing about a proposed military
buildup on the U.S. territory,
Johnson expressed his fear that
“the whole island will become so
overly populated that it will tip
over and capsize.”
Johnson soon released a
statement categorizing the com-
ment as “subtle humor” that il-
lustrated his concerns about the
“impact of the planned military
buildup on this small tropical is-
land.”
FREEPRESS
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 • VOL. 13, NO. 32 • FREE
Jester Copelin-Wood
nine-member DeKalb
School Board, were
returned to incum-
Congressman Hank Johnson, with his wife Mereda, celebrates his re-election follow-
ing the strongest Republican challenge in recent 4th District history. Photo provided
Carter, the chief executive
officer of the Lisbeth Carter
Group, an executive-level con-
sulting and search firm, said that
her campaign sent “a very big
message” to elected officials.
“We created a huge move-
ment, and we will continue to
stay active and unite the dis-
trict,” Carter said. “We will
continue to hold elected officials
accountable.”
Carter, who received endorse-
ments from the National Frater-
nal Order of Police, Americans
for Legal Immigration, DeKalb
Fraternal Order of Police, and
Leaders of Atlanta Tea Party
Patriots, said although the Re-
publican party made significant
inroads with her campaign, the
race was “about people, not the
political party.”
Carter would not say whether
she would run for political office
again in the future.
In the race for the 5th Con-
gressional district, Democratic
Cunningham Roberts Elder
bents – district 1 and
7 were in tight run-
offs.
Congressman John Lewis goes
back to Washington after re-
Turnout higher than
anticipated in DeKalb
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
A heavy interest in the gov-
ernor’s race and the five school
board seats drove a higher
number of voters to the polls in
DeKalb County than anticipated,
according to local election of-
ficials.
More than 137,000 vot-
ers turned out according to the
Georgia Secretary of State Web
site.
• A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS •
of district 1 both had
less than 50.1 percent
of the vote, which is
what’s required to
avoid a run-off.
Incumbent candi-
date Sarah Copelin-
Walker Wood of district 3
held a small lead with
Candidate Zapora 50.84 percent of the
W. Roberts of district vote over Corey Wil-
7 and Jim Redovian son’s 30.75 percent.
See Schools on Page 15A
ceiving 74 percent of the vote,
defeating Republican candidate
Fenn Little, who took 26 of the
vote.
Lewis, civil rights pioneer
who has served in Congress
since 1986, is a member of the
House Ways & Means Commit-
tee, a member of its subcom-
mittee on income security and
family support, and chairman of
its subcommittee on oversight.
Lewis is also the senior chief
deputy whip for the Democratic
Party in leadership in the House.
Little, a constitutional and
civil rights attorney, is a found-
ing partner of Maner Little
Crumley and Chambliss.
The 13th Congressional race
ended with incumbent Democrat
David Scott retaining his seat
after winning about 66 percent
of the vote over the 34 percent
See Congress on Page 15A
“We had more than 100,000
who had voted as of 5 p.m.
[Tuesday] said Maxine Dan-
iels, head of the DeKalb County
board of elections. “That doesn’t
include early voters or absen-
tees. That’s just who went to the
poll [Tuesday]. That’s higher
than what we had expected.
“The school board races in
the county did help some, but I
think it was more the governor’s
race across the board that helped
get more people out,” she said.
See Elections on Page 15A
 A Section • Page 2A THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010

DRCC’s annual Take Back the Night Run/Walk is held to promote rape prevention. Photo provided

Rape crisis center making big impact

by Mel Meadows
Rape hurts. Not only bod-
ies and psyches, but pocket-
books too. It overwhelms an
already crippled health care
system with ongoing costs of
physical and mental healing
and affects the bottom lines
of corporations through pro-
ductivity loss.
In fact, rape costs society
more than any other crime
including murder. According
to a National Institute of Jus-
tice estimate, rape and other
adult sexual assaults cause an
annual minimum loss of $127
billion, or about $508 per
U.S. resident. That figure in-
cludes tangible and intangible
losses such as property dam-
age or loss and pain and suf-
fering, but does not include
the cost of investigation,
prosecution or incarceration
of offenders.
For the past 20 years,
armed with a small staff and
many volunteers, the DeKalb
Rape Crisis Center (DRCC)
has worked to combat the
impact that rape has on vic-
tims, their spouses, family
members, and neighbors. His-
torically, the only available
resource for DeKalb County
rape victims was the rape cri-
sis center at Grady Memorial
Hospital, which covered both
DeKalb and Fulton counties.
In 1988, of the 1,200
sexual assault patients treated
at Grady, 20 percent were
DeKalb residents. Police offi-
cers reported to then DeKalb
County District Attorney Bob
Wilson that the trek for po-
lice officers and victims was
becoming a hindrance and the
services at Grady were being
stretched thin.
“They [Grady] often had
more volume than they really
needed to be handling,” said
Wilson. “They were stressed
a lot of the time to meet the
demand and Grady was just
not convenient physically for
a large part of our county and
our law enforcement.”
The distance, Wilson
said, created some issues for
DeKalb victims and took
See Center on Page 7A

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NEWS THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 • PAGE 3A
 OPINION THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 • PAGE 4A

The election is over. The get
out the vote effort was at a fever
pitch. There was much at stake in
this mid-term election, nationally
and in the state. The winners and
losers have been posted and the
results are being analyzed and dis-
cussed as you read this.
This was one of the vilest elec-
tion seasons ever recorded when it
came to personal attacks and char-
acter assassination, nationally and
statewide. In some instances, out
and out lies were told. It seems
all is fair in politics and war, and
politics today is war.
A politician who shall be
nameless once said, “Don’t hate
the player, hate the game.” Frank-
ly, the game being played today
is too often quite putrid. Many
decent people who want to serve
The Newslady
The evil men do
will not run for office because
they don’t want their names and
those of their family members to
be dragged through the mud.
An old Tennessee saw making
the rounds says when you have the
truth, argue truth, when you have
the facts, argue the facts. When
you have neither, holler! There’s
been a whole lot of hollering go-
ing on this political season.
I’m reminded of the line from
William Shakespeare’s play Ju-
lius Ceasar. Marc Antony said,
“The evil that men do lives after
them. The good is oft interred with
their bones.” The line was part of
Antony’s funeral speech after the
murder of the Emperor Caesar.
Antony is allowed to speak only if
he promises that he will not speak
ill of Brutus and the conspirators
who said they killed Caesar for
the good of Rome.
Our politicians kill off the
competition for “the good” of the
country, state or local govern-
ments. The deaths are from smear
campaigns rather than daggers
but just as deadly. Antony says,
“Friends, Romans, countrymen,
lend me your ears; I come to
bury Caesar, not to praise him.”
Antony gives the impression that
he agrees that Caesar was evil,
but in the rest of the speech he
mixes fact, innuendo and sarcasm,
ultimately reminding the crowd
of Caesar’s good qualities. It is a
classic political speech by a leader
who uses subtlety and oratorical
skill to persuade listeners to his
viewpoint.
That oratory was made hun-
dreds and hundreds of years ago.
It is ancient history. Skillful de-
bate and genteel discussions and
comparisons of records seem rel-
egated to the antiquities as well in
today’s political climate. Instead,
we have precious little discus-
sion of the issues but a plethora
of malicious personal attacks on
opponents and even their families.
We have incumbents who try to
muzzle the competition by refus-
ing to debate them, thus denying
voters the opportunity to make
informed comparisons. We dredge
up indiscretions to discredit, for-
getting we elected a president with
a DUI conviction. The president!
It seems to run for office today
one must 1) Possess very deep
pockets. Have plenty of money
in order to be considered a viable
candidate by the political pundits
and the media 2) Be of impeccable
integrity, never having said or done
anything that could be construed
as a character flaw by the flawed
characters passing judgment and
3) Possess pristine credit. If your
pockets are deep enough, you can
buy respectability and sign pres-
ence in a community that never
heard of you before the election
and your stops at the local Black
churches, pandering to the preach-
ers and the parishioners. By the
way, rarely do candidates make the
rounds of White churches.
Ah yes. The evil that men do
lives after them. The good is oft
interred with their bones. Such is
the case with many a would-be
great public servant. Their good is
buried with the bones of today’s
politics.
Steen Miles, The Newslady,
is a retired journalist and former
Georgia state senator. Contact
Steen Milies at Steen@dekalb-
champ.com.

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 www.ChampionNewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 •PAGE 5A

by John Feffer
The unemployment rate remains
near double digits and many Ameri-
cans have simply stopped looking
for work. Yet somehow an NBC sit-
com about U.S. jobs going overseas
is becoming a hit.
The show, called Outsourced,
revolves around an American man-
ager running a call center in India.
It’s great to see a prime-time show
take place somewhere other than
the United States. After all, if you
get all of your information about
the world from network television,
you might not even be able to locate
Canada on a map (oh, yeah, that
place just to the right of Northern
Exposure).
The premise of Outsourced is
that Todd, the American manager, is
saddled with a B team of call center
employees–quirky but loveable un-
Guest Opinions
Outsourcing television
derdogs who are just struggling to
get by. In other words, an American
television audience is being asked to
sympathize with a group of Indian
workers who have jobs that Ameri-
cans have recently lost. That any
Americans want to watch–its aver-
age of 6.3 million viewers a week
makes the show one of the top new
network offerings so far this sea-
son–is remarkable.
The truth is that we’re divided.
There’s a gulf between cosmopoli-
tans who benefit from globalization
and blue-collar workers whose wag-
es have gone steadily downhill be-
cause of foreign competition. Some
people appreciate the 24-hour cus-
tomer service line, regardless of the
accent of the person on the other end.
Others are strictly “buy American.”
Sometimes, it’s the same person
who lost her job last week to a far-
away factory and this week shops at
Wal-Mart to save money by getting
cheap shirts produced in Sri Lanka
and cheap Halloween decorations
made in China.
According to the consumer
watchdog Public Citizen, the na-
tion has lost about 4.9 million jobs
and 43,000 factories because of free
trade deals like the North American
Free Trade Agreement and nor-
malization of trade relations with
China.
President Barack Obama has
said that he wants to eliminate tax
breaks for companies that send jobs
overseas. The president supported a
bill that would have done just that–
but Republicans killed the bill in the
Senate.
However, Obama is leaning to-
ward supporting trade agreements
with South Korea, Panama and Co-
lombia that the Bush administration
negotiated. And he pushed through
bailouts for U.S. companies without
conditions that would have restrict-
ed their outsourcing of jobs.
Don’t expect it to delve into
those issues. It is a sitcom, after all.
But you can count on this TV
show to humanize the people so of-
ten demonized for taking American
jobs. Even the buy America crowd
can take some measure of solace
when watching the show.
Except for a few framing shots,
the show is filmed in Los Angeles
with mostly American actors.
But director Ken Kwapis says
that if the show is successful, he’ll
do more work on location. In a clear
sign of the times, Outsourced itself
may wind up getting outsourced.
John Feffer is co-director of
Foreign Policy In Focus at the Insti-
tute for Policy Studies. www.ips-dc.
org

Anti-gay bullying requires strong action by schools

by Maureen Costello
September was a bleak month
that demonstrated the deadly toll
anti-gay bullying can take on
young lives. Four young men in
four different states committed
suicide after being harassed by
classmates because they were gay
or were perceived to be gay.
In Texas, 13-year-old Asher
Brown shot himself after endur-
ing relentless taunting at his mid-
dle school. In California, 13-year-
old Seth Walsh hanged himself
when he couldn’t take the bully-
ing any longer–as did Billy Lu-
cas, 15, in Indiana. And 18-year-
old Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers
University student, jumped off a
bridge after his roommate secret-
ly broadcast online an intimate
encounter between Clementi and
another man.
These suicides are a devastat-
ing reminder that anti-gay bully-
ing is one of the most prevalent
and deadly forms of bullying in
schools.
National surveys show that
as many as nine out of 10 les-
bian, gay, bisexual or transgender
(LGBT) students experienced
harassment in the past year–a rate
three times higher than students
in general. These adolescents are
also up to four times as likely to
be depressed and think about or
attempt suicide as their straight
peers. In Minnesota, the Anoka-
Hennepin school district is a sad
testament to this finding. At least
four LGBT students there have
committed suicide in the past
year alone.
But this isn’t just a “gay is-
sue.” Anti-gay bullying is fre- stopping anti-gay bullying. The All school districts should
quently directed at straight stu- Southern Poverty Law Center’s adopt anti-bullying policies that
dents who are perceived as gay. latest classroom documentary, specifically protect LGBT stu-
Unfortunately, some organi- Bullied, chronicles the story of a dents. Until they do, thousands of
zations on the religious right are student who stood up to his anti- children will continue to suffer
pushing schools to ignore this cri- gay tormentors and filed a federal violence and humiliation. This
sis. These groups believe taking lawsuit against his school district isn’t about changing anyone’s be-
specific steps to protect a child and school officials in Wisconsin. liefs or behavior. It’s about recog-
from a school day filled with It led to a landmark federal court nizing that every child deserves a
taunts of “fag” and “homo”–or decision holding school officials safe learning environment.
even violent attacks–is an en- accountable.
dorsement of the so-called “ho- Despite that ruling, we’re Maureen Costello is the direc-
mosexual agenda.” facing a crisis that schools can’t tor of the Southern Poverty Law
It’s not. It’s about ensuring ignore. It may be tempting for Center’s Teaching Tolerance proj-
every child is safe at school. school officials to remain neutral, ect, which produces and distrib-
This is why school districts but as Holocaust survivor Elie utes anti-bias resources, free of
need strong anti-bullying poli- Wiesel said, “Neutrality helps the charge, to educators nationwide.
cies that specifically ban anti-gay oppressor, never the victim.” www.tolerance.org
bullying. Research consistently
shows that students report less
bullying at schools with policies
that specify certain types of bul-
lying compared to schools with
policies that don’t. It sends a
clear message that the school’s
anti-bullying policy covers all
students.
This approach has been en-
dorsed by the National Educa-
tion Association, the National
PTA, the American Association
of School Administrators, and the
National Association of Second-
ary School Principals–hardly a
bunch of radical organizations.
Contrary to what some critics
say, addressing anti-gay bully-
ing doesn’t grant LGBT students
special rights any more than spe-
cifically banning bullying based
on race, disability or religion
gives students special privileges.
It simply ensures that LGBT stu-
dents receive equal rights.
School officials should know
they can be held liable for not
 A Section • Page 6A
The year of the screwball
A bad economy might make voters angry,
but it shouldn't make them crazy
This is going to go
down as the Year of the
Screwball Election. Nev-
er before have so many
nutcases, whackos and
practicing lunatics come
out of their caves to run
for public office.
(Not all of them came
from caves, of course.
Some tied sheets together
and climbed out of their
windows when the guards
weren’t looking.)
First among equals in
the Looney Tunes Sweep-
stakes, I think, is Rich
Iott, the Ohio Republican
seeking a seat in the U.S.
House of Representatives.
Iott was already facing
a tough race: Incumbent
Marcy Kaptur won more
than two-thirds of the vote
against her Republican
challengers in the past
four elections. Iott be-
came an even bigger long-
shot when reporters and
bloggers found out that
his hobby was dressing
up in a Nazi uniform. The
kind Adolf Hitler’s troops
would wear.
Queried about this
unusual pastime, he said
he had taken his teenage
son along on the World
War II reenactments and
considered them a “father-
son bonding” experience.
(Who’s he getting parent-
ing advice from–Charles
Manson?)
Following close behind
Iott is perky Christine
O’Donnell, Delaware’s
answer to Sarah Palin.
O’Donnell, a Republican
Senate nominee, began a
recent campaign appear-
ance by announcing: “I
am not a witch.”
This is known in politi-
cal circles as “lowering
voter expectations.” (Hey,
it worked for Richard “I
Am Not a Crook” Nixon.
For a while.)
That issue behind her,
Printed on 100%
post-consumer
recycled paper
by Donald Kaul
Columnist
she’s now free to con-
centrate on other matters
of national importance,
like masturbation (she’s
against it), guns (she’s for
them), lower taxes (for),
and abortion (against).
Neither Iott nor
O’Donnell is expected
to win, but other, equally
baroque personalities are.
Rand Paul, for example.
Kentucky’s Republican
senatorial nominee has
been accused of partici-
pating in the kidnapping
of a young woman while
he was in college at Bay-
lor University (in aptly
named Waco, Texas.). She
now claims Paul and his
buddies tied her up and
took her to a creek where
they made her bow down
and worship the “Aqua
Buddha.”
This story led his op-
ponent for the Kentucky
Senate seat to accuse Paul
of worshipping a false
God, upon which Paul
said he would not shake
hands with that opponent.
“I will not associate
with a man who attacks
my religion,” he said.
(Aqua-Buddhists are so
touchy.)
Paul is a self-styled
libertarian but has op-
posed cuts in Medicare
and Medicaid payments to
physicians. He’s also an
eye surgeon, after all.
Then there’s Sharron
Angle, who’s running
against Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid in
Nevada.
She has denounced
Dearborn, Mich., a Detroit
suburb populated with
many Arab immigrants,
and Frankford, Texas,
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010
for being governed under
Sharia law. Which, to be
fair, would be enough to
make your blood boil,
except for the fact that
they aren’t. As a matter of
fact, many of the Arabs in
Dearborn are Christians
and Frankford has ceased
to exist, unless you count
the cemetery. The following comments are pulled straight from our Web site and
I’m not even going to are not edited for content or grammar.
mention Carl Paladino,
the Republican candidate
for governor of New York Congressional forum continues without
who has promised to “take
a baseball bat” to the New Congressman Johnson
York state legislature and
has threatened to “take It doesn’t matter at all that you hear it every at
out” a reporter who asked every election. It still is not right. An elected of-
a mildly hostile question. ficial is accountable to his or her constituents and
Or Linda McMahon, should be available to them and willing to earn
the Republican who is us-
ing the fortune she made their vote period. Ms. Carter is certainly not crying
about this. She usually is smiling and going about
promoting flamboyant
wrestling matches to be- the business of her campaign which includes get-
come a Connecticut sena- ting out amongst the people. And by the way, there
tor. is no doubt that she can handle whatever rumbles
Establishment political in Congress.
commentators (and I’m
glad I’m not one of them)
have called this “a popu- –Al Rakel posted this on 10/27/10 at 8:52 p.m.
list revolution,” fueled
by 10 percent unemploy- We hear this every election season -- “the in-
ment. It’s not. cumbent will not debate with me.” It’s tiring to con-
A bad economy might stantly hear candidates whining about this issue.
make voters angry, but it
shouldn’t make them cra- It’s all part of the game, like it or not. I’ve been to
a number of debates and forums. The majority of
zy. Why, all of a sudden,
do we have Republican people there are the members of the group host-
candidates who look like ing the event and the candidates with their staffs.
directors of the Flat Earth Candidates like to make a much bigger deal of de-
Society? bates than they really are.
Here’s my theory: The
Chinese are putting some-
thing in our water supply Ms. Carter should stop trying to piggyback on
that’s making us just a Hank Johnson and continue to get her message
little bit nuts. out. If people believe in it, they’ll vote for her. If
They figure we’ll vote they don’t, they will vote for Johnson or sit out.
these cuckoos into of-
fice and make it easier
for China to take over the –Stewart posted this on 10/27/10 at 6:39 p.m.
world.
So far, it seems to be
working.
OtherWords columnist Yancey trial: Judge dismisses motion to acquit
Donald Kaul lives in Ann
Arbor, Michigan. www.
otherwords.org
Only life sentences? The elements support the
death penalty; and also a hate crime. However,
this is DeKalb and one will be lucky just to get a
conviction.
–Rhineman posted this on 10/29/10 at 2:15 p.m.
www.ChampionNewspaper.com
Dunwoody officials fine
tuning sign ordinance
by Matt Amato
After months of dead-
lock, Dunwoody’s pro-
tracted sign ordinance issue
is back on the table. Except
this time, an amended draft
may soon end mixed signals
from the city council.
More than 20 pages of
legal wording were pre-
sented at the Oct. 19 city
council meeting, prompting
a long discussion on the del-
icate balancing act of com-
mercial and public interests.
Some residents argued
previous drafts were too
overbearing, similar to regu-
lations of a strict homeown-
ers association. However,
supporters maintain the
city is trying to avoid sign
“overkill,” which can be
aesthetically unsightly and
unsafe for motorists and pe-
destrians.
In August, a vote was
evenly split, 3-3, and the
ordinance went back to city
planning director Howard
Center
Continued From Page 2A
police officers off the streets.
The need to place a rape cri-
sis center near the center of
DeKalb soon became clear.
A task force through Decatur
Cooperative Ministries was
created to assess the viability
of such a center. Sue Ellen
Williams, the incoming pres-
ident of the Junior League of
DeKalb County, was on the
task force and encouraged
the group to ask the Junior
League to sponsor the center.
The Junior League was the
financial underwriter for the
first three years of DRCC’s
existence and encouraged its
members to serve as volun-
teers.
The Junior League created
a board of directors, which
Wilson chaired from 1988
until 1991, to raise funds to
hire staff and recruit a volun-
teers. The idea was to enable
volunteers to work “on-call”
while continuing their daily
lives. DRCC operated out of
donated office space and in
1989, with a grant from the
Criminal Justice Coordinat-
ing Council, hired executive
director Virginia Vaughan.
“The people that she knew
cut across a lot of ranges of
our community,” said Wilson.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010
Koontz for more public
input.
At the Oct. 19 meeting,
an attorney familiar with
ordinance law said some
provisions could be struck
down for breaching First
Amendment rights.
No vote was taken on
the current draft, with the
city council opting for some
changes to clarify wording
on accessory structures.
And though the ordi-
nance’s passage appears
to be closer, some say
Dunwoody compares unfa-
vorably with neighboring
municipalities in its time to
reach a consensus.
It’s been 21 months since
the city started the process
of holding public forums,
meetings and proposals.
“The problem is that
it’s been too much,” said
resident Keith Smith, who
hadn’t had a chance to read
the latest draft. “You can
regulate but also over regu-
late. I can see why some
“She knew a lot of people
who had some resources that
could help support the center;
she had a lot of friends that
were willing to be volunteers.
She had a good, earnest way
about her that made people
want to try to help.”
Two months after hir-
ing Vaughan, training of 50
volunteers was held at the
DeKalb County Courthouse.
DRCC’s hallmark, a 24-hour/
seven-day-a-week volunteer-
staffed crisis line took its first
call on Oct. 30, 1989.
“It was a long time ago,”
said Vaughan. “No one had
cell phones back then, and we
actually passed a pager be-
tween volunteers and covered
that crisis line 24/7 for years.
I admire those first dedicated
volunteers so much. They
really had the heart and com-
mitment to make it work.”
In 1991, DRCC began the
annual Take Back the Night
Run/Walk and a volunteer
Speaker’s Bureau to promote
rape prevention. The fol-
lowing year, DRCC became
incorporated as a 501 (c) 3
organization in Georgia. In
2004, the organization moved
into the building DRCC cur-
rently occupies in downtown
Decatur. Past board member
and volunteer Julie Childs
said the one-story, handi-
capped-accessible building
of the businesses would be
upset.”
Putting together an or-
dinance can be an arduous
process, which Sign Com-
mittee member Bill Grant
referred to in an August
news report as “the biggest,
hardest, worst, most difficult
project I’ve ever worked on
in the public sector.”
Consolidated within the
draft are recommendations
from Dunwoody’s Sign
Committee and adoptions
from DeKalb County’s ordi-
nance.
The difficult part has
been finding a solution that
will please homeowners
with high aesthetic stan-
dards and business owners
who feel their right to ad-
vertise is being encroached
upon.
No date has been set
on a vote but the ordinance
could pass in the coming
weeks.
was a great fit to meet the
clients’ and staff needs.
Vaughan retired after 18
years and current executive
director Phyllis Miller was
hired. She said the center’s
impact on DeKalb County is
enormous.
“I don’t know that you
can put a dollar amount on
the comfort and peace that
DRCC can provide,” said for-
mer DeKalb County District
Attorney Gwen Keyes-Flem-
ing, who joined the DRCC
board in 2005. She noted that
the DA’s office handled some
14,000 charges and that sex-
ual assault cases comprised
approximately 6 percent of
the overall caseload.
“The [DeKalb] popula-
tion is so much larger and
denser than 20 years ago,”
current DRCC board chair
and victim’s rights attorney
Andrew Rogers said. “I
can’t imagine a county of our
size with the level of crime
we have not having this re-
source available.”
“DRCC remains a vital
organization that affects the
quality of life for all mem-
bers of the DeKalb commu-
nity,” Miller said. “We have
a committed board and com-
munity leaders to ensure that
the needs of sexual assault
victims are met in our com-
munity.”
A Section • Page 7A
Judy Hollis
Champion of the Week
from 16 to 65 years old.
The goal of the GED
classes is to equip the
students to successfully
take and pass the GED
test, which in turn will
empower them to be
successful in the work-
place.
Hollis also volun-
teers under Sandy
Ferguson, director of
the Literacy Ministry
Creating a daily to- which includes ESOL/
do list and keeping a Citizenship classes,
schedule is how Judy student tutoring and the
Hollis maintains order GED Ready School.
She aims to facilitate an
in her life. A DeKalb
County resident for opportunity for people
more than 40 years, of all ages to feel em-
Hollis has been volun- powered to change their
teering for more than 18 current situation and
years. impact the lives of their
Hollis juggles her family and the commu-
time between being an nity.
administrative assistant “In order to be suc-
at DeKalb Technical cessful, you have to set
College and director of goals. Goals should be
the GED Ready School written and visible to the
at Rainbow Park Baptist goal setter daily,” Hollis
Church in Decatur. said.
Hollis also feels
“I believe I am suc-
cessfully managing my that each goal should
life because I am in the be broken down into
smaller parts. Hollis
will of God. I am very
busy, so it is imperative said, “Each accom-
that I remain focused, plishment of one of the
Holliss said. smaller parts is a boost
When Pastor Steven of hope.”
Youth Minister Octa-
N. Dial Sr. created the
GED Ready School pro- via Samuels said, “She
gram Hollis was asked is a beacon of hope
her to be the adminis- to those that have lost
trative assistant of the their way. When I’ve
school. After a year, visited the program I
Dial promoted her. was inspired by the love
and respect shown to-
GED classes are
held on Monday and wards each student and
Thursday, from 6-9 teacher. Judy Hollis is
p.m. Students range my volunteer champ.”
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.
 A Section • Page 8A THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010

Hispanic Heritage Month more than

cursory obligation for Doraville
by Matt Amato “We view it as an asset local international commu-
and something that can be a nity, given the area’s demo-
Like any mayor of a met- foundation for our future,” graphics.
ro municipality in a nega- said Howe. “With globaliza- One of Doraville’s big-
tive economy, Ray Jenkins tion, the world has gotten gest businesses in the
is devoting calendar space much smaller and it’s in the Spaghetti Junction area,
to those interested in his community’s best interests H Mart, is a grocery store
city. Unlike his counter- to reach out.” serving the Asian commu-
parts, though, his net’s cast Howe said Doraville has nity, and an example of the
wider in the search for fresh enhanced ties with local retail possibilities that exist.
investment. consulates and is consider- And while Howe said the
Derrek Kayongo, Global Soap Project founder (left) and Josh On Oct. 10, for example, ing joining a “sister city” city has enjoyed a produc-
Kravitz, MedShare COO (right) shake hands on their partnership
that began with a donation of 20,000 bars of recycled soap. Photo Jenkins sent police chief program in an effort to in- tive relationship throughout
by P. Witcher John King to deliver a city crease economic opportuni- the community, there are o
proclamation observing ties. Additionally, city offi- ccasions when public policy

2 tons of recycled soap Taiwanese independence

donated to local non-profit
by Pureterrah Witcher
pureterrah@DeKalbchamp.
com
One bar of soap at a time,
The Global Soap Project, is
reducing the spread of vari-
ous diseases and infections
among those living in poor
countries – and working with
DeKalb organizations to do
so.
In observance of Global
Handwashing Day, on Oct.
15, The Global Soap Project
donated two tons of soap or
20,000 bars to MedShare,
a Decatur-based non-profit,
which will redistribute the
soap to nations that lack
proper sanitation.
Global Handwashing Day
is a global event, mandated
by the United Nations that
assembles millions of people
fighting the transmission of
diseases in the countries we
serve,” said Courtney Baird,
MedShare development man-
ager.
“It’s an important addition
to our inventory. The soap
will go to the various coun-
tries that need it. After receiv-
ing the donation we are now
working in the capacity of
distributor,” Baird added.
MedShare, founded in
1999, collects surplus medi-
cal supplies and equipment
and ships it to health care
facilities in the developing
world. The organization also
raises money to sponsor the
containers and procuring the
donations.
According to the organi-
zation, it has gathered more
than $83 million worth of
life-saving medical supplies
to a delegation at the Fox
Theatre. Also for October,
cials – not just law enforce-
ment – must undertake basic
cultural sensitivity training
rubs against cultural tradi-
tions.
A recent proposed ordi-
planned activities were to appear more welcoming
scheduled for Hispanic Her- to international residents.
nance tightening restrictions
on massage parlors, for
itage month, many of which “It helps us communicate example, was criticized by
the mayor attended. much better and builds good some residents as insensi-
For Doraville, observing relations,” said Howe, add- tive to the Asian commu-
the cultural celebrations and ing that Doraville has been nity.
traditions of its multicultural invited on trade missions to “The massage parlors
residents is more than an ex- Korea and China in the past [issue] is the closest thing
ercise in public relations. It but had to decline because we’ve had, but nothing’s
could also be good business. of resources. reared its head because of
Census figures show The loss of the Gen- cultural miscommunica-
between 40-45 percent of eral Motors plant, for years tions,” said Howe. And
the population is Hispanic, Doraville’s main economic to not show favoritism
with about 12 percent being driver, has left a huge eco- or ostracizing any group,
Asian. nomic void. A large parcel Doraville maintains a list
According to Luke of land in the Spaghetti of independence days of all
Howe, the mayor’s assistant Junction area that houses Hispanic and Asian coun-
who has a degree in inter- the mothballed plant is tries for proclamation pur-
national relations, roughly the center of an LCI study poses.
80 percent of Doraville’s aimed at envisioning a re- “We want to establish the
business population is made generative economic plan. city as a place to host festi-
up of residents identified as Many of the businesses vals and showcase the many
having Korean or Taiwanese expected to adopt this plan different faces [of its popu-
heritage. will therefore be serving the lation],” said Howe.

Football game galvanizes

to illuminate the importance and equipment; its ship-
of washing their hands with ments of medical supplies
soap. The goal is also to al- and equipment have reached

community after tragedy

leviate the risks of acute
respiratory and diarrheal in-
fections caused by the lack of
soap.
The Global Soap Project,
founded in 2009 by Derreck
Kayongo, a humanitarian
relief expert, recovers and
recycles soap from American
hotels. Then, using a $20,000
machine, the soap is sani-
tized, melted and remolded
into new bars, and later dis-
tributed to refugee camps in
Africa.
The Global Soap Project
figures with 4.6-million hotel
rooms in the United States,
an estimated 2.6-million soap
bars are discarded every day.
And MedShare welcomes
partnership opportunities, as
organizers believe they can
do more when joined with
other organizations to make a
difference.
“This is a great part-
nership. Soap is a vital in
people in 80 countries.
MedShare has recycled,
prepared and sent more than
$73 million of life-saving
medical supplies and equip-
ment in 600 tractor-trailer
sized containers to hospitals
and clinics in 82 countries in
the developing world.
This accounts for more
than 1 million cubic feet of
space saved in U.S. landfills
and approximately 2,500 tons
of supplies and equipment.
U.S. hospitals gener-
ate more than two million
tons of medical waste each
year. Much of that waste
is unused medical supplies
and equipment, according to
Healthcare Without Harm.
In the developing world, the
World Health Organization
estimates that more than 10
million children under the
age of 5 die due to inadequate
medical care.
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
In mourning over the
death of a 14-year-old stu-
dent, the Southwest DeKalb
High School community
came together over a foot-
ball game Oct. 30.
A day before South-
west’s game against Miller
Grove, freshman Carmon
McBride was killed when
the car she was riding in
crashed into another car and
flipped on Kelly Chapel
Road near the high school.
The accident happened
at approximately 8:30
p.m. on Oct. 29. Carmon’s
brother, 17-year-old Myles
McBride, was driving his
Mazda Protégé and swerved
to avoid a dog, according
to DeKalb County Police
spokesman Jason Gagnon.
Carmon was taken to taken
to Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta at Egleston where
she was pronounced dead,
Gagnon said.
Myles McBride and
two other passengers in
the car—18-year-old se-
nior Shakar’e Gilbert
and 14-year-old freshman
Jasmine Coleman—all suf-
fered critical injuries but are
expected to survive. They
all remain in area hospitals.
All four are members of
the school’s marching band
and were on their way home
from practice when the ac-
cident happened.
“We’ve had deaths at
the school before but not
one that has impacted the
community like this,” said
Buck Godfrey, a long-time
teacher and head football
coach at the school. “I’d say
80 percent of the band was
there at the hospital [Friday
night] and I know some of
our players were there too.”
All four were honor stu-
dents, Godfrey said. Grief
counselors were on campus
Saturday before the team
and the marching band left
for the football game, God-
frey said. The counselors
also were at the school on
Monday.
The driver of the other
See SWD On Page 17A
www.ChampionNewspaper.com
The Essence
of cooking
More to come from 12-year-
old chef after cookoff win
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
When she was younger,
Essence Snowden would
hang out in the kitchen and
watch her mother cook.
The 12-year-old home
schooled student from Stone
Mountain would pay close
attention to the ingredients
that went into the pots and
pans and the cooking tech-
niques applied by her mom.
After soaking up her moth-
er’s passion and knowledge
of cooking, Essence was
ready to be a helper.
A short time later Es-
sence followed in her
mother’s footsteps and be-
gan preparing meals for her
family.
Winning a recent cook-
ing competition has so-
lidified Essence’s dream of
becoming a professional
chef. She won a Caribbean
jerk cookoff competition
at the fifth annual Atlanta
Caribbean Jerk Festival held
at Panthersville Stadium in
Decatur over the Labor Day
weekend.
“Oh yes, it’s something I
would like to do as a profes-
sion,” said Essence, who is
a vegetarian. “I’d like to go
to cooking school when I
get older.”
The cookoff victory has
prompted Essence to en-
ter a cooking competition
at the Children’s African
Ball, Nov. 13, at the Atrium
Events Center in Stone
Mountain. Essence said she
also is working on a cook-
book and a calendar, which
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010
will feature photos of some
of her recipes.
“I don’t use any animal
products,” Essence said. “I
like to use different things
like cashews in my cooking,
and I like to make salads,
desserts like cashew par-
faits and cookies—stuff like
that.”
Essence’s mother, Queen
Taese, called the organizers
of the Caribbean jerk coo-
koff and convinced them to
allow her daughter to com-
pete in an event that was
originally for adults only.
Essence paid the $50
entry fee with her birthday
money and proceeded to
out-cook six adult chefs to
take home the $350 prize.
“I’ve never cooked in
public before,” Essence
said. “I thought it was some-
thing fun to do; I wasn’t
expecting to win. I wasn’t
scared and it didn’t matter if
I won or not, I was just hav-
ing fun.”
Essence had three hours
to make three dishes—jerk
lentil patties, jerk kale salad
and barbecue jerk tofu ka-
bobs. She said she had prac-
ticed the salad dish the night
before but wasn’t exactly
sure of her menu until she
arrived at the competition.
“She really didn’t know
about jerk seasoning before
the competition, but she
studied the history of it and
tried to think of something
to do that was different,”
Taese said. “She decided to
do something new, the jerk
kale salad, and it was won-
derful.”
A Section • Page 9A
Essence Snowden, 12, poses with a table full of ingredients before the cookoff competition at the
Atlanta Caribbean Jerk Festival. Left photo shows Essence’s finished dishes. Photos provided
The judges agreed and “We didn’t know what the right attitude and wasn’t
chose Essence as the winner. to expect at the [jerk coo- worried about winning or
In addition to the cash prize, koff],” Taese said. “She was losing. It was exciting for
Essence was given a trophy really humble and confident the whole family.”
to commemorate her win. and I was a wreck. She had
SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER WAITING LIST
DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY (DHA) WILL OPEN
ITS SECTION 8 WAITING LIST ON
NOVEMBER 9, 2010 TO NOVEMBER 11, 2010
BY TELEPHONE ONLY
Pre-Applications for the Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance Program will be accepted BY TELEPHONE
beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 and will be suspended at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 11,
2010. The telephone service is available 24 hours a day to take pre-applications. The phone number is:
1-888-493-8770
NO OTHER PHONE NUMBERS WILL BE ACCEPTING PRE-APPLICATIONS.
The purpose of the pre-application is to obtain names of interested persons who may be eligible to be placed on the
DHA Section 8 Waiting List.
Pre-applications received during the open period will be placed into a random selection lottery conducted by an outside
organization of which 3000 households will be selected to form the Section 8 Waiting List. Only one pre-application per
person will be accepted. Duplicate Social Security Numbers received will be deleted and only the first one received will
be retained. Pre-applications will be placed on the Waiting List in the order drawn, subject to DHA preferences. Within
90 days the 3000 households selected by lottery for placement on the Waiting List will be notified by mail. Those NOT
selected in the random selection lottery will NOT be notified.
PAPER PRE-APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
Hearing and speech impaired applicants should contact the Pre-Application phone number given above through Georgia
Relay at 711; out of state hearing and speech impaired callers should call 1-800-855-2880.
NO PRE-APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY’S OFFICES
Housing Authority of the City of Decatur, Ga.
www.decaturhousing.org
Warning: Title 18, Section 1001 of the United States Code, states that a
person who knowingly and willingly makes false or fraudulent statements
to any department of the United States is guilty of a felony. Applicants
who do so will be removed from the Waiting List.
 A Section • Page 10A
Juvenile court works with youth
to get them on track
by Gale Horton Gay
gale@dekalbchamp.com
Juvenile court judges like
DeKalb’s Associate Judge Linda
Haynes have heard it all. Young
people offering up excuses and
justifications why they aren’t going
to school– some based on family
circumstances that are factual
and others are tales packed with
dreamed-up drama.
The court’s job is to get to the
truth and to help put young people
who are chronically absent for
unacceptable reasons on a path
toward success rather than one
leading to future crime and possible
incarceration, the judge said.
Haynes is pleased that years of
hard work by herself, other judges
and court staff and partners are
paying off with a system that puts
kids in classrooms and off the
streets.
Now young people who go
through Juvenile Court have
their school records checked for
attendance, and if they is missing
school, that is addressed as well.
That wasn’t always the case.
While there were some 10,000
students in DeKalb County schools
during the 2008-09 school year
who missed 15 days of school or
more, Haynes pointed out that
number is in keeping with national
averages. And she adds that one
has to consider that there are
likely accounting errors as well as
legitimate absences that are part of
that number. In fact, she recalled
that some years ago when DeKalb
supposedly reached 15,000 students
with chronic absenteeism, the actual
number was 8,000.
Haynes said it is rare that a
young person gets hauled into
Juvenile Court for truancy alone. In
fact, she said the system is designed
to weed out students who may
have received a police citation for
a lone truancy incident but who
have good grades and no other
blemishes or records. However,
young people who come through the
court on charges such as burglary
and car theft now get their school
attendance records checked as well.
The court instituted its Truancy
Awareness Program (TAP) in 2006.
Haynes said that at the time
school social workers were
overwhelmed and felt they didn’t
have the support they needed to
adequate address truancy. In time a
team of social workers, probation
officers and treatment providers
were brought together to address the
problem in a more comprehensive
manner.
And to get parents to attend
meetings about school attendance
that they previously blew off,
Haynes created a letter designed to
look similar to a summons on court
letterhead.
Hundreds of parents showed up,
Haynes recalled.
Meetings, presided over by
Juvenile Court judges, were initially
held at middle and high schools
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010
Part 4
with the message that at the first
meetings students would get a pass
but if the behavior continued they
would be ordered to stand before a
judge in court.
Three judges, each assigned a
district in the county, conducted
51 truancy interventions at various
schools, Haynes noted.
Some truancy ended right there;
however, others did not.
The Juvenile Court began family
assessments to determine what was
at the heart of the problem. Issues
such as depression, attention-deficit
disorder and mental illness turned
up through this process. According
to Haynes, the assessments give
judges and others intricately
involved in working with young
people “a really good picture of
what has to happen for a child to be
successful in school.”
While Haynes doesn’t want to
cite hard numbers, she said that
TAP has resulted in a significant
reduction in the county’s truancy
rate.
“When they see they are being
successful, it’s amazing,” she said.
“If you make them successful in
school…everything else around
them will be successful.
“To our knowledge there’s no
one in the state with a program
that’s this intense,” Haynes said.
Haynes likens juvenile court
to a “healing court,” a place to be
rehabilitated, a place to be healed.”
And she recalls one family for
which truancy was just the tip of the
Juvenile Court Chief Judge Desiree
Sutton Peagler, left, and Juvenile Court
Judge Linda Haynes. Photo by Robert
Naddra
iceberg. Assessments revealed that
two children who had been truant
had a mother with mental health
issues who also was trying to care
for her elderly mother. The children
had to be removed from the home
for a while and support services
were provided to the family, but
they have since been reunited with
their mother and haven’t missed any
more school since returning home.
Depending on the particulars of
individual cases young people may
be linked with services such as drug
counseling, mental health services,
family counseling, medical services,
academic support and more. They
may be assigned probation officers
to make sure they stay on track and/
or have to do community services.
Routinely the court will track how
the students do academically and
attendance-wise for a period of
time.
Both Haynes and Juvenile
Court Chief Judge Desiree Sutton
Peagler agree that making young
people and their parents come
before a judge often has a chilling
effect, especially when that judge
tells them they could face fees in
excess of $500.
Said Peagler of the need to keep
children in school, “Truancy is a big
problem not only in our county but
throughout the state. It’s a gateway
crime. This is the beginning of the
behavior we see that leads to the
more serious cases in court.”
www.ChampionNewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 A Section • Page 11A

One man indicted, another charged in

DeKalb property armored truck robbery at DeKalb Medical
dispute returns by Nigel Roberts most attempts to rob these
money trucks fail. According
to James L. Dunbar, founder
disguised as workers wear-
ing overalls, approached
an armed guard unloading

to the high court

A Loomis armored truck
made a routine stop on Oct. of Dunbar Armored Inc., and money bags from his Brink’s
13 at the DeKalb Medical co-author of a history of the truck, shot him four times and
Center when two masked armored truck industry, on escaped with $9,500.
men, one armed with a gun, average, thieves attempt to There are no reports of in-
by Nigel Roberts unlocked the secure compart- rob banks about 100 times juries in robbery at the Medi-
ment of the truck and walked more often than armored cal Center. The indictment
An ongoing legal clash over a vacant lot in DeKalb out with bags of money. trucks. But at the same time, against Thornton charges one
County has once again reached the state’s Supreme One week later, federal armored truck robberies are count of conspiracy to ob-
Court. The high court heard arguments Oct. 18 be- prosecutors announced the far more likely to end tragi- struct, delay and affect com-
tween Community Renewal and Redemption LLC, a grand jury indictment of cally. merce by robbery, and one
company involved in tax liens and title acquisitions, Okevlibus Thornton, 28, of According to Armored- count of unlawful possession
and Geraldine Nix, a DeKalb schoolteacher. Com- Atlanta. He faces charges of Pro.com, an industry Web of a firearm during and in re-
munity Renewal asked the justices to reverse a lower robbery and possession of a site, robbery attempts have lation to a crime of violence.
court’s decision that dismissed its suit against Nix. firearm during the robbery. resulted in the death of 129 He faces a maximum prison
This case stems from DeKalb County auctioning And on Oct. 25, authorities armored guards. The first oc- sentence of 27 years and a
the property in 1993 to satisfy a tax delinquency. In charged an alleged accom- curred in 1924, in the Bronx, fine of up to $250,000 on
1998, Nix, who lived on the adjoining lot, submit- plice, Troy Stephens, in the N.Y. The New York Times each count.
ted the winning bid to obtain the property. To make $643,000 heist. Stephens has reported that two gunmen,
the purchase, Nix signed a note with her bank (now not yet been indicted.
owned by Bank of America), securing her debt with According to allegations,
the deed, even though the county did not give her the the two masked men loaded
deed until three months later. the money bags into a wait-
Five years later, Community Renewal obtained ing U-Haul truck, driven by
an interest in the property when the original owner a third person. Shortly after
quitclaimed it to the company. Under state redemp- fleeing the scene, a DeKalb
tion laws, Community Renewal claimed ownership County police officer ap-
by paying off the tax debt. Community Renewal then proached the U-Haul truck at
sent Nix a $16,000 check—an amount it calculated a nearby gas station. Thorn-
based on a statutory formula. When Nix refused the ton allegedly attempted to
check, the company sued, seeking to force redemption flee on foot but was appre-
of the property. hended. According to authori-
By law, a person whose property has been taken ties, Thornton was wearing
for tax delinquency has a right to redeem the property a bulletproof vest and was
within a statutory timeframe by paying back taxes. carrying a Glock 17 handgun
In 2004, the trial court rejected the company’s when police arrested him.
argument that DeKalb failed to terminate the redemp- Investigators said they be-
tion rights properly and sided with Nix. Community lieve the robbery was an in-
Renewal brought the matter to the Supreme Court in side job. Crime scene inves-
2005. The justices sided with the company, ruling that tigators found the master key
under changes in state law, title did not belong to Nix on the floor of the armored
merely by passage of time—sending it back to the truck’s secure compartment.
trial court. Representatives of Loomis
Back in the trial court, Nix sought a dismissal of Fargo & Co, which has a fleet
the case based, this time, on the company’s failure to of approximately 3,000 ar-
pay the full redemption price to Bank of America be-
fore filing the suit. The trial court sided with Nix, and
mored vehicles and employs
more than 8,000 workers,
confirmed that Thornton
DEKALB TECH ALUMNI
once again, Community Renewal appealed to the high
court.
was an employee. They also
reported that the master key
(Degree, Diploma or TCC)
Attorneys for the company told the justices that the had been missing since Sep-
law requires redemption payment prior to filing a suit tember, when Thornton was
only after the county follows proper procedures to ter-
minate redemption rights, which DeKalb failed to do,
they claimed.
the last employee assigned to
that vehicle.
“This defendant had the
Has DeKalbTech
They also argued that the company does not have
to pay Bank of America because the bank’s security
opportunity to earn an honest
living as a trusted employee
been a part of
deed was recorded in the county records three months
before DeKalb actually gave title to Nix. Consequent-
ly, Community Renewal had no evidence before filing
of an armored car company,”
stated U.S. Attorney Sally your life?
Quillian Yates. “Instead, he
its suit of a deed recorded outside the “chain of title,” allegedly abused his employ-
which is the ownership history of a piece of land. er’s trust, and in the middle We want to reconnect with you
Nix also failed to show that she has “title by pre- of a stop at a busy local hos-
scription,” which would include improvements to the pital, put the public and other through our newly launched
vacant lot, the attorneys added. employees in grave danger by
Lawyers representing Nix and Bank of America robbing the truck.” DTC Alumni Association website!
contended that Community Renewal failed to make At some point, every bill
a proper title search and must pay the bank a higher and coin in circulation has
amount than it offered Nix. Furthermore, failing to
raise the issue of not receiving proper termination of
taken a ride in an armored
vehicle. Consequently, these Please Register at
redemption notice first in the lower court precludes bulletproof trucks, designed
Community Renewal from raising the issue for the with multiple gun ports, are a dekalbtech.edu/alumni
first time on appeal. magnet for violent robberies.
Crime statistics show that 404-297-9522 x1139
 A Section • Page 12A THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010

Plastics class reshapes students’ views on science careers

by Pureterrah Witcher
pureterrah@dekalbchamp.
com
Plastics are in many
of the items we use every
day – from car safety fea-
tures such as windshields
and seatbelts, to tasty treats
such as M&Ms and fast-
food shakes.
Much of our world is
plastic, and for that reason
jobs in the plastics engi-
neering field are plentiful.
This was the message that
the national plastics cen-
ter’s Marjorie Weiner de-
livered to the 10th graders
at Decatur High School, on
Oct. 14-15.
“Those iPods, cell
phones, Wii and XBOX
games you guys use – that’s
plastics engineering,” said
Weiner, director of the mo-
bile classroom program,
which travels to schools
and companies across the
United States, educating
people about plastics chem-
istry, history and sustain-
ability.
“The medical industry
Marjorie Weiner, Plastivan Program director, gave a fun, hands-on presentation to Decatur High soph-
more students about plastics engineering careers. Photo by P. Witcher
uses it for artificial eyes,
hips, knees and the list goes
on. Many of the automotive
industry’s most expensive
cars are largely plastic. And
we all know Hollywood
wouldn’t be so glamorous
without it.”
In the two-day event
sponsored by the Society of
Plastics Engineers, Weiner
engaged the students with
entertaining, hands-on ex-
periments that included
making slime, skewing a
balloon, testing the absor-
bency of a diaper and creat-
ing nylon.
To Sean DeWeese, a sci-
ence teacher at the school,
it is in fun settings like this
that students connect sci-
ence to the real world, and
grow a true interest in the
subject.
“I was so glad to hear
they were coming because
a lot of students don’t see
science as a career option,”
said DeWeese.
“They think of the ste-
reotypical scientist as being
a nerd, wearing a white lab
coat. The reality is we are
everyday people. Anyone
can be a scientist. All you
have to do is train yourself
to think like one. That’s
what I want them to get
from this,” he added.
Weiner introduced the
students to an array of ca-
reer opportunities in the
plastics industry. She ex-
plained that in Georgia the
plastics industry employs
nearly 25,000 people at 370
facilities, making the plas-
tics sector one of the leading
industries in the state.
“We’ve become a dispos-
able society. When some-
thing breaks we throw it
away, but the engineering
of plastics turns something
used into something than
can be reused,” she said.
“If you like to solve
See Plastic on Page 13A

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www.ChampionNewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 A Section • Page 13A
Yancey trial:

Jurors request 911 tape and crime scene video

by Pureterrah Witcher
Pureterrah@dekalbchamp.com
The jury in the trial of
the former DeKalb County
sheriff’s deputy Derrick
Yancey has deliberated a
total of three days without
reaching a verdict, as of
Nov. 2 at press time.
After a short time in
deliberation on Oct. 30, in
DeKalb County Superior
Court, the panel of five
women and seven men re-
quested to review the 911
tape and crime scene video
when deliberations resumed
on Nov. 1.
No explanation of the
jury’s request could be
given by Judge Linda W.
Hunter’s chambers.
Yancey, 51, was charged
in August 2008 with killing
his wife Linda Yancey and
day laborer Marcial Cax-
Puluc.
On the final day of the
trial, Oct. 30, Yancey told
Judge Hunter he would not
testify in his defense and in
his attorneys pointed to the
crime scene video in their
closing statements calling it
evidence of “public charac-
ter assassination.”
“What did you see when
the crime scene video tape
first began?” defense attor-
ney Letitia Delan asked the
jury.
“You saw news trucks
The fate of former DeKalb deputy Sherrif Derrick Yancey, charged with double-murder is now in the
See Yancey On Page 17A hands of jurors. The panel of five women and seven men have been deliberating for three days.
DeKalb County Wants to Hear From You
Regarding the Proposed Franchise Agreement Renewal
with Comcast Cable Communications
Send your comments and/or concerns regarding Comcast’s current performance under
the current franchise agreement and/or the future cable-related needs and interests of
your community to cable@co.dekalb.ga.us.

The Champion Weather Nov. 4, 2010

Plastic Seven Day Forecast In-Depth Local Forecast Today's Regional Map Weather History
Continued From Page 12A
Today we will see mostly cloudy skies with a Nov. 4, 1927 - A great Vermont
THURSDAY
problems there is a place Mostly Cloudy
slight chance of showers, high temperature flood occurred. Tropical rains
for you in plastics engineer- High: 61 Low: 39
of 61º, humidity of 58% and an overnight Dunwoody deluged the Green Mountain
ing.” low of 39º. The record high temperature for 59/38 Lilburn area of Vermont, causing the
today is 80º set in 1946. Friday, skies will be Smyrna Doraville worst flood in the history of the
Marlin Joyner, a ju- FRIDAY sunny with a high temperature of 57º.
60/39
state. Torrential rains, up to 15
60/39
nior and a member of the Sunny
60/39
Snellville inches in the higher elevations,
school’s football team, *Last Week’s Almanac Decatur
High: 57 Low: 34 61/39 sent streams on a rampage,
Atlanta 61/39
wasn’t impressed by Wein- Date Hi Lo Normals Precip
61/39 devastating the Winooski Valley.
er’s presentation until she SATURDAY Tuesday 85 67 70/49 0.00" Lithonia
College Park
reminded him that plastics Sunny Wednesday 79 69 69/49 1.23" 62/39 Nov. 5, 1961 - Strong Santa
Thursday 73 57 69/49 0.12" 62/39
are used for increased per- High: 56 Low: 35 Morrow Ana winds fanned the flames
Friday 66 44 69/48 0.00" of the Bel Air and Brentwood
formance and safety in most SUNDAY Saturday 70 38 68/48 0.00" Union City
62/39
fires in Southern California,
of the sports equipment he Sunny Sunday 74 43 68/48 0.00" 62/39 destroying many homes. At 10
uses. High: 62 Low: 40 Monday 71 43 68/47 0.00" p.m., the Los Angeles Civic
“Football wouldn’t be Rainfall . . . . . . .1.35" Average temp . .62.8
Hampton
Center reported a temperature
63/40
much fun without a helmet, MONDAY Normal rainfall . .0.76" Average normal 58.5 of 74 degrees along with a dew
would it?” she asked the Sunny Departure . . . . .+0.59" Departure . . . . .+4.3 point of 5 degrees.
class. High: 66 Low: 45 *Data as reported from De Kalb-Peachtree Airport
“No, especially not the Local Sun/Moon Chart This Week Tonight's Planets
way I hit ‘em,” Joyner jok- TUESDAY Day Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset
Rise Set
ingly responded. Sunny New Thursday 7:59 a.m. 6:42 p.m. 6:13 a.m. 5:26 p.m. Full
Mercury 8:57 a.m. 7:13 p.m.
The class laughed. High: 68 Low: 46 11/5 Friday 8:00 a.m. 6:42 p.m. 7:23 a.m. 6:08 p.m. 11/21
Venus 7:17 a.m. 5:50 p.m.
And on that note Weiner Saturday 8:01 a.m. 6:41 p.m. 8:33 a.m. 6:54 p.m.
Mars 9:54 a.m. 7:56 p.m.
WEDNESDAY Sunday 7:01 a.m. 5:40 p.m. 8:40 a.m. 6:47 p.m.
invited him to the front of Mostly Sunny Monday 7:02 a.m. 5:39 p.m. 9:41 a.m. 7:43 p.m.
Jupiter 4:29 p.m. 4:16 a.m.
First Last
the class for an experiment. High: 69 Low: 48 Tuesday 7:03 a.m. 5:38 p.m. 10:36 a.m. 8:43 p.m. 11/28
Saturn 5:35 a.m. 5:24 p.m.
11/13
Together they showed that Wednesday 7:04 a.m. 5:38 p.m. 11:22 a.m. 9:43 p.m.
Uranus 4:34 p.m. 4:31 a.m.
plastics are thermo-poly-
mers, which means they can Local UV Index National Weather Summary This Week Weather Trivia
be heated and reshaped into
?
The Northeast will see partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered rain and snow What part of the United
something new. today through Saturday, with the highest temperature of 62º in Ocean City, Md. States gets the most
0 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+ The Southeast will see scattered showers today, mostly clear to partly cloudy skies hail?
So were Joyner’s views
Friday and Saturday, with the highest temperature of 86º in Hollywood, Fla. The Northwest will
reshaped on the plastic in- UV Index
see mostly clear skies today, isolated rain Friday and Saturday, with the highest temperature of
Answer: “Hail Alley” is found in
parts of Colorado, Nebraska and
dustry as a career. 0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate,
6-7: High, 8-10: Very High 67º in Twin Falls, Idaho. The Southwest will see mostly clear skies today through Saturday, with Wyoming.
“That was cool. I never 11+: Extreme Exposure the highest temperature of 94º in Chino, Calif. © 2010. Accessweather.com, Inc.
expected all that stuff to
come from plastic. I was StarWatch By Gary Becker - It's about Time
surprised by all the different The moment is almost upon us to change our clocks back to Standard Time. No, it won’t happen on Halloween. It’s Europe’s turn this week on the morning of October
uses for it – like clothing 31. We officially move our clocks back the following Sunday, November 7, by repeating the hours of 1-2 a.m. twice. That change puts us more in harmony with the sun,
meaning that the sun reaches its highest point in the heavens, due south, around noontime each day rather than at 1 p.m. as it has been occurring since Sunday, March 14
and food,” he said. when clocks were adjusted ahead to begin Daylight Saving Time. Remember it this way; fall back and spring ahead. We really don’t lose or gain any daylight; we simply
“I’m definitely going to put time in better synchronization to accommodate our waking hours. If you normally rise and shine around 6 a.m. on workdays, you’ve noticed over the past several months that it has
look into it. Right now, I’m been getting darker and darker each morning. Sunrise for 40 degrees north latitude is now happening about 7:30 a.m. By the winter solstice, sunrise would be closer to 8:20 a.m. when
flexible.” most of us should be in a fully functioning mode. Starting on the morning of November 7, the sunrise at 40 degrees north will occur at 6:30 a.m., and by the winter solstice it will be
To that point, plastic pushed back to 7:20 a.m. If we gain an hour in the morning, than we must lose an hour at sunset. On Halloween the sun goes down at 6 p.m. On November 1, that falls back to 5 p.m.
bringing us closer to sunset around the evening commute. One of the main reasons always cited for wanting to give us some extra light in the morning deals with school safety. Most
means malleable or shape- districts start their day between 7-8 a.m. and for rural districts this can mean an hour or more commuting on a school bus. Pickups can occur as early as 6 a.m. which would in some
able. cases be occurring 2-1/2 hours before sunrise. Get ready for that extra hour of catch up sleep next week. It only happens once each year. www.astronomy.org
 A Section • Page 14A THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010

Flat Rock walks the walk to preserve slave cemetery

by Pureterrah Witcher
pureterrah@dekalbchamp.com
A procession of more
than 300 people ran, walked
and gathered Oct. 30 in
Lithonia to preserve a cem-
etery off Lyons Road–a
place where more than 200
slaves rest.
Built in 1833, members
of the Flat Rock archives
and museum say the Flat
Rock Slave Cemetery,
nestled on a steep hillside in
an affluent Lithonia subdi-
vision, is missing a number
of headstone markers, secu-
rity equipment, a protective
gate lacks and regular lawn
maintenance.
“There are so many
improvements we need to
make to keep this place
from being overtaken by
the decay of time,” Johnny
Waits said, president of the
Flat Rock archives and mu-
seum, the organization that
hosted the event.
“As the oldest Black
town in DeKalb, the histori-
cal sites and records of Flat
Rock are essential to pre-
serving the county’s past,”
Waits said of the cemetery
located within the Arabia
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, Democrat from Lithonia, spoke to a crowd of participants Oct. 30 about the
importance of preserving the Flat Rock slave cemetery. Photos by Pureterrah
Mountain National Her-
itage Area.
Walking through the
three-acre cemetery,
Waits went on to say the
cemetery has been van-
dalized over the years,
but recently cleaned up
by the Greater Atlanta
Archeology Society, and
mapped and studied by
Georgia State University.
Paperwork to get the ceme-
tery designated as a national
historic site is under review.
Helping to consecrate
the cemetery for the first
time, U.S. Rep. Hank
Johnson, Democrat from
Lithonia, spoke to the
crowd who gathered at
the sight of DeKalb’s old-
est Black church at 4250
Flat Rock Road – torn
down in 1971.
“Sometimes it takes
stopping and looking
back at our achievements
to appreciate where we
are,” Johnson said to the
crowd.
“The future can look
hopeless because we don’t
take the time to look back,
appreciate and preserve our
history. It’s amazing to see
the names and dates on the
graves,” he added.
Established in antebellum
times, Flat Rock appeared
on maps in the early 1800s,
however was removed after
the Civil War, in 1868.
To pay homage to those
buried in the cemetery, the
full day of events included a
visit by the 54th Massachu-
setts Infantry Company, the
Atlanta Chapter of the Buf-
falo Soldiers, songs from
the Georgia Geechee Gullah
Shouters, and hourly tours
to the Lyon South River
Plantation, where partici-
pants were able to tour slave
quarters and learn about the
community from historians.
“It’s great to be able to
bring my family out here to
see the cemetery; to experi-
ence the history and culture.
We’ve never seen something
like this,” Renee Wright of
Lithonia said, who walked
with her children in the 5K
Benefit Walk.
“I hope this is continued.
More people need to know
all about this place,” Wright
said.

HEALTH
Health experts say everyone should get a flu shot this year
Even though the weather is still mild, flu
season is here and people of all ages should
be prepared, said Diane Watson, director of
Georgia’s Office of Immunization. She said that,
unlike in previous years, this year the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is
recommending the everyone 6 months old and
older get flu shots, not just at-risk populations
such as elderly people and those with special
health challenges.
Every year more than 200,000 Americans are
hospitalized from influenza complications and
approximately 36,000 die from influenza-related
causes. Last year there were 79 deaths in Georgia
from seasonal influenza, mostly in the 25-40 age
range.
Every season is different, according to
Watson. And how many people receive flu
vaccination can affect the severity of the season.
With increased influenza activity anticipated this
fall, U.S. public health officials and other leading
medical experts are urging Americans to get
immunized early for protection against seasonal
influenza, a threat to Americans’ health every
year.
Seasonal influenza vaccine is already
available in many communities and Americans
should begin to get vaccinated now, Watson said,
adding that there is no need for concern about
availability. Seasonal vaccine supply is expected
to top 110 million doses this year.
Facts and statistics about influenza from the
Georgia Office of Immunization:
• Influenza and pneumonia together are the
eighth leading cause of death in the United
States.
• In the United States, influenza and its
related complications are responsible for
approximately 36,000 deaths and more than
200,000 hospitalizations each year. Up to one in
five Americans are infected with the influenza
virus each season.
• Only 42 percent of health care workers are
immunized against influenza each year, despite
long-standing recommendations by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and
other leading health organizations. Health care
workers infected with influenza can spread
this dangerous virus to their patients, who are
oftentimes more vulnerable to the disease’s
severe complications.
• Medicare Part B reimburses fully for both
influenza and pneumococcal immunizations.
• Approximately 4,500 Americans die from
invasive pneumococcal disease annually.
Pneumococcal bacteria can invade the lungs,
bloodstream, brain and spinal cord, resulting
in a number of different illnesses, including
pneumonia and meningitis.
Facts and statistics about immunization:
• Each year in the United States, an estimated
50,000 Americans die from vaccine-
preventable diseases—95 percent are adults.
• Vaccines are among the safest prevention
options available. Individuals should consult
their health care provider to determine their risk
for vaccine-preventable diseases and the need
for immunization.
• Vaccines are very effective in preventing the
suffering and costs associated with vaccine-
preventable infections, such as influenza,
pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus
(HPV) and hepatitis B.
• Some of these illnesses do not have a cure, and
all can cause tremendous health problems or
even death.
• The potential risks associated with the diseases
these vaccines prevent are much greater than
the potential risks associated with the vaccines
themselves.
www.ChampionNewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 A Section • PAGE 15A
Schools
Continued From Page 1A

Of school board races, Re- pizza sales to county schools

dovian’s 42.8 percent of the
vote seemed most uncertain as
Nancy Jester 47.7 percent.
Incumbents Eugene P.
Walker of district 9 and Jesse
“Jay” Cunningham Jr. of the
5th district, came out ahead of
their opponents – both earn-
ing more than 55 percent of the
vote.
Late Tuesday night, Cun-
ningham was unavailable to
comment. Shortly before the
election information was made
public indicating that he has a
given the closeness of the race
to a recent expose of his crimi-
nal record and was convicted of
stealing $12,500 in bank depos-
its from a Decatur McDonald’s
in 1982 this information could
have been damaging.
Cunningham’s $22,000 in
was one of the things that led to
a review of the system’s accred-
itation by the Southern Associa-
tion of Colleges and Schools.
How exactly a seat change
would affect the SACS review
of DeKalb schools to address se-
rious concerns is not completely
clear. SACS officials did not
return calls from The Champion,
as of press time.
SACS will visit DeKalb by
Feb. 1.
Just candidates endorsed
by eduKalb’s won – Walker.
However the organization cre-
ated to advance the school board
following the indictment of
former schools Superintendent
Crawford Lewis will endorse Liz Carter, still hopeful as early returns came in, thanks supporters as they watch
results come in at a Northlake area hotel. Photo by John Hewitt
other candidates in 2012, when
District seats 2, 4, 6 and 8 are Congress
up for election.
Continued From Page 1A

for Republican Mike Crane, a the Foreign Affairs Commit-

construction company owner. tee where he is vice chair of the
Scott, who was first elected to Terrorism, Nonproliferation and
Congress in 2002, serves on Trade Subcommittee, and the
Financial Services Committee, Agriculture Committee.

Elections
Continued From Page 1A
Republicans dominated the
statewide races despite heavy sup-
port by DeKalb voters for Demo-
cratic candidates.
Republicans were winning the
governor and lieutenant governor
races, a Senate race and the secre-
tary of state race at press time. But
their Democratic opponents car-
ried a large majority of votes in the
county. Republican Nathan Deal
beat Democrat Roy Barnes to be-
come the next governor. Johnny
Isakson led in the race to keep his
Senate seat and Republican Casey
Cagle was leading the lieutenant
governor’s race.
DeKalb voters were in favor of
Barnes (75.7 percent to 20.1 per-
cent for Deal) and Carol Porter,
the Democratic candidate for lieu-
tenant governor (74.8 percent to
22.18 percent for Cagle).
In one of the more highly an-
ticipated local races other than the
school board, Democrat Robert
James was leading in the DeKalb
County district attorney race.
James got 64.4 percent (76,077) of
the vote compared to 35.6 percent
(42,067) for Democrat Carol Pin-
son Heard.
Democrats dominated the state
Senate and House races that in-
volved DeKalb County districts
with 66 percent of precincts report-
ing. Of the nine races where candi-
dates were not unopposed, Demo-
crats led six seats.
House District 81 incumbent
Republican Jill Chamber at press
time was trailing Democratic chal-
lenger Elena Parent.
In the Senate, Fran Millar was
the only Republican to win. Run-
ning for a vacant seat, Millar got
61.9 percent of the vote compared
to Eric Christ with 38.1 percent.
 BUSINESS THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 • PAGE 16A

The wide variety of merchandise available at Intown Ace Hardware includes Partners Tony Powers, right, and Dave Jones have been with the store since it opened 25
plants and gardening supplies. Photos by Kathy Mitchell years ago.

Hardware store celebrates 25th anniversary

with some original staff still there
by Kathy Mitchell
kathy@dekalbchamp.com
When Decatur resident
Tony Powers was a
student at the University
of Georgia, he took a
part-time job at the new
Intown Ace Hardware
on Scott Boulevard. The
store is celebrating its 25th
anniversary this year and
Powers is still there, but
now he’s the store manager
and one of the owners.
Like his partner Dave
Jones, Powers has been
with the store since the
day it opened. “This marks
the area and are looking for
more upscale merchandise.
“Years ago if someone had
suggested that we would be
selling $25-a-gallon paint,
we would have laughed, but
our customers want more
quality merchandise.”
Powers said that his store
is able to continue doing
well despite the proliferation
of “big box” stores that
carry similar items because
of the niche ACE has carved
out in the growing hardware
industry. Customers at
the 13,000-square-foot
Scott Boulevard store can
find thousands of home
Moore paint, Big Green
Egg, Mrs. Meyers and
Weber grills.
“When you have great
products and great service,
customers keep coming
back. We carry some of the
most respected brand names
and best-selling products
in the industry,” he said.
“Every year, one of us goes
to the national trade show
to see the very latest in the
merchandise we carry. We
want the items to be in our
stores before the ads for
them show up in magazines.
We want, when customers
come in at ask about a new
item, to be able to say,
‘Yes, we have it here in the
store.’”
Powers said he and his
staff work hard at living up
to Ace’s national “helpful
hardware man” slogan. “Our
goal is to remain industry
leaders—the experts in our
field.”
He said that the
merchandise mix has
changed a great deal over
the years. Along with the
screwdrivers, hammers,
lumber and lawnmowers are
barbecue grills, spices and
even women’s perfume.
“We’re returning to the
old general merchandise
concept that was prevalent
in most American cities 100
years ago,” Powers said.
“People like being able to
do their shopping in one
place.”
Celebrating more than 70 Years

an exciting milestone for maintenance products Notice of Cancellation of Public Hearing of Service

us,” Jones stated in a news

release. “We’re proud to be
part of this community for
two and a half decades. It’s
been our honor to help
and supplies along with
automotive and home
décor items, as well as such
national brands as Benjamin
The Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Avondale EVENTS
Estates has cancelled the public hearing scheduled for November 11th – BBS – Bartering and
Monday, November 15, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Business. Location: DeKalb
Convention & Visitor’s Bureau – 1957
Lakeside Parkway, Suite 510, Tucker,

customers with their home GA 30084. Register online at

maintenance needs, and PUBLIC NOTICE www.dekalbchamberofcommerce.org.

November 17th - Network DeKalb

we look forward to another Leads Group – Fourth Quarter. Take
25 years of serving the part in a pure Networking Program.

residents of Decatur.” The proposed 2011 Maintenance and Operations budget and Capital Improvements budgets for Lunch Served. Courtyard by Marriott.
COST: $10.00- Members (advance) /
“This part of Decatur $15.00 (door) /$20.00 Non-members.

has changed a lot since we the City of Pine Lake will be available for public review at the Pine Lake City Hall, 462 Clubhouse November 18th – Ribbon Cutting

first came here,” Powers
observed. “Most of the
residents right around us
were older people on fixed
incomes.” The area, he said
has become more diverse
not only in terms of age and
income, but ethnicity as
well.
Drive, Pine Lake, Georgia during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, beginning the
Ceremony – Delta Community Credit
Union – 11:30 am.
week of November 8th.
November 18th – Business After-Hours
– Hilton Garden Inn – Stonecrest –
7890 Mall Ring Road, Lithonia, Ga
30038 – 678-526-1000. Chamber
Members – No Cost. Non-Members -
The City Council for the City of Pine Lake will conduct a Public Hearing to solicit citizen input on $10.00. Register online at
www.dekalbchamber.org.
the proposed budgets during the regular City Council meeting scheduled for November 30, November 25th – 26th – Thanksgiving
Holiday. The DeKalb Chamber Office
2010, beginning at 7:30 PM. The Public Hearing will be held in the Courtroom/Council Chambers will be closed.

In recent years, he said,

younger double-income located at 459 Pine Drive, Pine Lake, GA 30072. For more information on DeKalb Chamber related
events or to receive email updates, call 404-378-
families have moved into All interested citizens are invited to attend and be heard. 8000 or visit www.dekalbchamber.org
www.ChampionNewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 A Section • Page 17A

2010 Public Safety Champions named

Police Chief William O’Brien welcomes guests
and honorees to the Police Officer Ball. Photo
by John Hewitt
At the DeKalb Police Al-
liance’s Fourth Annual Police
Officers Ball, held Oct. 30 at
the Crown Plaza Ravinia in Dun-
woody, the 2010 Public Safety
Champions were presented tro-
phies and certificates commemo-
rating their dedication to public
safety.
Master of ceremonies and
WSB-TV news personality, Mark
Winne, announced recipients’
names while Carolyn Rehling,
chair of the ball and Carolyn
Glenn, publisher of The Cham-
pion Newspaper presented each
honoree with a trophy.
Those individuals and organi-
zations recognized were DeKalb
County Police Department Edu-
cation Specialist Janean High-
tower; DeKalb County SWAT
Team and Bomb Squad member;
Lt. Greg Ivanov; Major Lionel
Higdon of the DeKalb County
Police Department Command
Center Precinct; Chief John King
of the Doraville Police Depart-
ment; William “Rusty” Furman,
Dunwoody Police Department;
officer A. T. Watts, DeKalb
County Police, South Precinct;
Sgt. Larry Williams, Lithonia
Police Department; Chief Tony
Scipio, Clarkston Police Depart-
ment; officer Richard LePage,
Jr. of DeKalb Police Department
East Precinct; Sgt. Roy Peeler of
DeKalb Police Department, East
Precinct; Corporal Paul Conroy,
Avondale Estates Police Depart-
ment; Grant Knox, volunteer at
DeKalb Police Center Precinct;
Jerry Cullen and James Floyd
of the Northwoods Neighbor-
hood Watch Program; Joscelyn
O’Neill, Greater Towers Com-
munity Neighborhood Watch
Coordinator, and Joan and Ar-
nold Kurth of North Briarcliff
Civic Association Neighborhood
Watch.
More than 40 individuals and
organizations were nominated for
the awards in the months leading
up to the celebration.
In addition to the individual
awards, Darryl Ford, owner
and general manger of Stone
Mountain Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge
offered six flat screen televisions
to help support public safety
training initiatives. Names of each
municipal police department,
DeKalb County schools police as
well as the Sheriff and Marshal’s
offices were placed into a bowl
and names were drawn for offices
that would receive the televisions.
The winners of the flatscreens
were the police departments of
Chamblee, Dunwoody, Clarkston,
Avondale Estates, Lithonia and
Stone Mountian.

Yancey SWD
Continued From Page 13A Continued From Page 8A

right in front of the house –
they arrived before all the
police could. At the time
there were several police-in-
volved shootings in DeKalb
under investigation. Derrick
Yancey was convicted by the
media before his trial ever
began,” Delan said.
In its closing statement
the prosecution told a tale of
household turmoil – a family
not reflecting on the outside
the discord within.
“The way he kept his yard
so immaculate is a reflection
of how far he would go to get
what he wanted – to keep up
appearances,” chief assistant
district attorney Don Geary
said of Yancey.
“He wants to be seen as
the hero. The one who shoots
the home invader,” said
Geary.
Before that, defense at-
torneys Delan and Ruth
McMullin presented their
closing arguments to the jury
claiming the state gave no
motive, no witnesses and no
cover-up.
“This is a case of inter-
secting tragedies. The first
was the attempted robbery
by day laborer Marcial Cax-
Puluc, and the second is the
prosecution of Derrick Yanc-
ey,” Delan said to the jury.
“There are all kinds of
reasonable doubts in this
case. They [state prosecutors]
have proven nothing. Theirs
is a road map that leads you
nowhere,” she added.
But there were sticking
points for both sides.
The state raised questions
about Yancey’s statement
that he was acting in self de-
fense when he shot and killed
Cax-Puluc and his demeanor
during the 911 call–suggest-
ing to jurors it was all a set
up.
“Why was the gun placed
in [Cax-Puluc’s] hand when
there has been testimony
that he’s right-handed? The
blood on his hands is consis-
tent with holding a wound,”
Geary said. “What about the
fact that there was no blood
on the defendant’s face al-
though he claimed to have
given CPR to his wife, who
had blood coming from her
mouth?”
To that the defense point-
ed to state witnesses who
testified to the contrary.
“One of the state’s own
witnesses stated Mr. Yancey
was so distraught officers
had to carry him out of the
basement,” defense co-coun-
sel McMullin said.
She went on to address
the motivation behind Yanc-
ey’s decision in August 2009
to cut his electronic monitor-
ing device while on house
arrest, and leave the country
for Belize.
“The prosecution wants
you to believe Derrick
Yancey ran when his story
unraveled. Really? All the
witnesses we’ve seen have
collaborated with his story,”
Delan said, as she methodi-
cally took the jury through
a line-by-line analysis of
Yancey’s initial statement to vehicle, Roger Wood- about 20 minutes after it
police. ward, and his 3-year-old happened via a text from
“There is no evidence son Nicholas Woodard, principal Angela Bethea’s
that his story unraveled. His suffered non-life-threaten- husband.
mother testified that he was ing injuries. Roger Wood- The marching band still
depressed. He had no money, ard was taken to Atlanta performed at the game Sat-
nor had he looked to go to a Medical Center and his urday night and a moment
country that doesn’t extradite son was seen at Egleston. of silence was held before
to the U.S.,” she added. Gilbert and Coleman the game. Southwest won
Prosecutors honed in on were taken to Grady Me- the game 7-0.
the fact that Yancey fled on a morial Hospital and re- “Our principal told me,
Saturday morning – when no main there, according to a ‘you don’t know how big
one would be working he’d hospital spokesman. that was,’” Godfrey said.
have the opportunity to get as Godfrey said he found “We had to win that game
far away a possible. out about the accident for the community.”
“That man did not intend
to be found. He was avoiding
justice,” said assistant district
attorney Geary.
“He thought he’d get
away with it. But, if he’s man
enough to kill a 20-year-old
day laborer and his wife – to
jam a 357 into her chest and
blow her heart in half – he’s
man enough to face you,”
Geary said to the jurors.
Earlier in the trial, on Oct.
30, defense attorneys moved
to have Yancey acquitted of
all charges on the basis that
the prosecution’s evidence
was solely circumstantial.
However, Judge Hunter
dismissed the motion. She
also threw out the statement
of Danita Huff, a friend of
Yancey’s wife, who said Lin-
da confided in her that her
husband would kill her.
If found guilty, Derrick
Yancey faces a minimum of
two life sentences.
 EDUCATION
Students weigh
choices at college fair
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
Brett Oakman is inter-
ested in pursuing a college
degree in sports medicine.
But until he stepped into
the gym at Towers High
School recently for the
school’s inaugural college
fair, Oakman, a junior, didn’t
realize that pursuit was be-
ginning this year.
More than 40 colleges
from across the country took
part in the fair, which al-
lowed students to learn more
about classes offered and
the application process at
schools they’re interested in.
Along with those from
many Georgia colleges, rep-
resentatives from schools
such as Howard University,
Virginia Tech, the University
of North Carolina, the Uni-
versity of Alabama and the
military academies were on
hand to help students learn
more about their schools.
“Without this I don’t
think I would have applied
until my senior year,” said
Oakman, who wants to ma-
jor in sports medicine. “It
really opens my eyes to all
the opportunities I have and
allows us to see what all the
options are.”
Towers is among a grow-
ing number of schools in
DeKalb County that holds
college fairs on campus. Li-
thonia High School is host-
ing a fair this month, and
Southwest DeKalb and Dun-
woody are among schools
that have had college fairs
this fall. For students to have
access to so many colleges at
their school is more produc-
tive than if a student attends
larger fairs venues like the
World Congress Center,
Towers administrators said.
The fair at Towers was
open to its senior class of
186 students and a junior
class of 218 students.
“This gives kids a better
opportunity to talk to more
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 • PAGE 18A
schools,” said Christa Rob-
inson, the head counselor
at Towers. “They can get
more information than they
could at larger fairs and can
spend more time with rep-
resentatives and be able to
ask questions. We wanted to
have it first semester because
by second semester they’re
already getting acceptance
letters.
Robinson said she hopes
to expand the fair in the
coming years and eventually
make it available to the en-
tire student body.
“We’re already doing
things in the ninth grade
academy to expose them
to college,” Robinson said.
“Next year we’ll add the
10th graders and eventually
we’ll make it available to the
entire school. We don’t want
them to wait until the last
minute to start to prepare.”
Like Oakman, Towers
students Tam Vu and Jori
Davis liked the options they
discovered by attending the
fair. Vu, a senior, wants to
study biology or physical
therapy and Davis, a junior,
is interested in psychology.
Both found schools that
they didn’t realize had their
course of study. Towers High School students, top and bottom photos, check out information at the school’s first col-
“I like a lot of different lege fair that was held earlier this month. Center photo: Towers principal Kenn Baker and counselor
Timica Porter. Photos by Robert Naddra
schools,” Davis said. “[The
fair] was really helpful and
it opened my eyes to other
schools I hadn’t thought
about.”
Some colleges offered
incentives to help students
with their decisions. Atlanta
Christian College, for ex-
ample, waived its application
fee for October, Vu said.
Vu compared different
colleges with a checklist.
“I wanted to find out
about class size, the grades
they require and each school
has some individual schol-
arships that they offer,” Vu
said. “This allows you to find
out about a variety of schools
so you won’t be limited.”
www.ChampionNewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 A Section • Page 19A

Emory’s Johnson Medals to honor

champions of civil, human rights
Emory University’s of the Joseph E. Lowery Atlanta. Franklin. The Coca-Cola us with a knowledge of our
James Weldon Johnson Institute for Justice and Company is sponsoring the condition.”
Institute is set to award Human Rights at Clark The ceremony will be led by ceremony as a Founding
the 2010 James Weldon Atlanta University, and was actress Regina Taylor and Corporate Sponsor of the The Johnson Medal
Johnson Medals to awarded the National Medal Rudolph P. Byrd, Goodrich Johnson Institute. ceremony is one of the
seven individuals whose of Freedom by President C. White Professor of signature programs of the
achievements and Barack Obama. American Studies and “The Johnson Medal Johnson Institute, and is
service reflect a deep and founding director of the Award Ceremony is an its principal fundraiser.
unwavering commitment to • Robert (Bob) P. Moses, Johnson Institute. Emory occasion when we may Tickets are $30 and $20 for
civil and human rights. The for civil rights. Founder of President James W. reclaim and reaffirm our students. All funds raised
medals will be presented The Algebra Project, Moses Wagner will offer remarks commitment to the greatest provide ongoing and future
at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 8, was a pivotal organizer for and present one award. Each social movement of the support of the institute’s
at The Carter Center. The the Civil Rights Movement medal will be presented 20th century,” said Byrd, various programs. Advance
medals honor the legacy as field secretary for following a reading from and offer the Emory and tickets are available
and accomplishments of the Student Nonviolent Johnson’s works by special Atlanta community a chance through the Emory Alumni
legendary writer, journalist, Coordinating Committee guests from Emory and to “pause to reflect upon Association; visit http://bit.
civil rights leader, musician (SNCC), and was director Atlanta, including former our relationship to a living ly/jwjiawardtickets.
and humanitarian James of SNCC’s Mississippi Atlanta Mayor Shirley history that has provided
Weldon Johnson. Project. He was a driving
On Tuesday, Nov. 9, force behind the Mississippi
the medalists will take Summer Project of 1964 in
part in a colloquium panel organizing the Mississippi
discussion on campus for Freedom Democratic
undergraduate students. Party, which challenged
“Lessons Learned Along the Mississippi regulars
This Way” will be from at the 1964 Democratic
noon to 1 p.m. in White Convention.
Hall 208. The medalists will
share the factors that shaped • Justice Leah Ward Sears,
their commitment to social for law. Sears is an Emory
justice, and then engage trustee and alumna, and a
in conversation with the partner in the Atlanta law
audience. firm Schiff Hardin. She was
appointed in 1992 by Gov.
The 2010 Johnson Zell Miller to Georgia’s
Medalists are: Supreme Court, where she
became the first woman,
• Lucy Cline Huie, for and the youngest person,
humanitarian service. to sit on the court. From
An Emory alum, Huie is 2005-09 she served as
co-founder of HOPE, a chief justice of the Georgia
civil rights project whose Supreme Court.
purpose was to desegregate
public schools in Jonesboro, • The late Sondra K.
Ga., in the 1940s and ‘50s. Wilson, for humanitarian
Huie courageously defied service. Wilson was a
the White supremacists leading scholar of James
of Jonesboro and Clayton Weldon Johnson and the
County. Her archive National Association
documenting this period for the Advancement of
in Georgia’s civil rights Colored People. Wilson
history is in Emory’s was executor of the Estate
Manuscript, Archive and of Grace Nail and James
Rare Book Library. Weldon Johnson, and
the founder of the James
• Deborah E. Lipstadt, Weldon Johnson Memorial
for humanitarian service. Foundation, which for more
Lipstadt is Emory’s Dorot than a decade awarded the
Professor of Modern Jewish James Weldon Johnson
and Holocaust Studies at the Medal. (The Johnson
Tam Institute. A courageous Institute is now the
defender of the truth of custodian of the Johnson
the Holocaust, she is the Medal.)
author of the prize-winning
History on Trial: My Day in • Ambassador Andrew J.
Court with David Irving. Young, for civil rights. The
former mayor of Atlanta,
• Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, Young was a congressman
for civil rights. Lowery was and a top aid to the Rev.
vice president and president Martin Luther King Jr.
of the Southern Christian He is the founding principal
Leadership Conference. and co-chairman of Good
Lowery is the founder Works International of
A Section • Page 20A
AROUND
ATLANTA
Free film to be shown at
Emory
There will be a screening of
the film Hail the Conquering
Hero Wednesday, Nov. 10,
at 7:30 p.m., White Hall 205,
Emory University, Atlanta. Writer- Dresses,” and recently sold to a
director-producer Preston
Sturges followed up his comedy work can be seen at
hit Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
with another home-front tale,
also starring Eddie Bracken.
This time Bracken is Woodrow
Lafayette Pershing Truesmith,
the son of a WWI Marine hero
who can’t face returning home
after being discharged for
chronic hay fever. All of Sturges’
favorite character actors are
back and in pitch-perfect form.
The results earned his script an
Academy Award nomination.
The event is free and open to
the public. For more information, the planning
visit www.filmstudies.emory.edu
or call (404) 727-6761.
Free concert announced
Grammy-winning bassist
John Clayton will perform in
a free concert on Thursday,
Nov. 11, at Emory’s Schwartz
Center for Performing Arts
Emory Concert Hall, 1700 North are free, but pre-registration is
Decatur Road, Atlanta. Joining
Clayton will be pianist Gary
Motley, Emory University’s
director of jazz studies, along
with trumpeter Jason Covey,
saxophonist Randy Hunter and Keep DeKalb Beautiful will
drummer Justin Chesarek. The host “SHRED–IT,” a recycling
event is free and open to the
public. For more information,
visit www.arts.emory.edu.
AVONDALE
ESTATES
Local artist’s work in
museum
Avondale Estates resident and
artist Mike Goettee recently
had one of his paintings
chosen for the permanent
collection at the Booth Western items are then recycled and
Art Museum in Cartersville.
During the summer, Goettee
was asked by the curator to
bring in “Red Rocks Romance.”
The curator and executive
director wanted to present it
and “Agave Maria” to the board
of directors for a possible
purchase. “Agave Maria” was in
the recent juried members show
held at the Booth. It is the latest
in Goettee’s series of “Fiesta
patron of the museum. Goettee’s
http://michaelgoettee.com.
CLARKSTON
Family reunion workshop
offered
The DeKalb Convention and
Visitors Bureau again is host-
ing free family reunion planning
workshops. The workshops
offer tips that can help simplify
and make fam-
ily reunions more entertaining.
Workshops can be attended
by anyone interested. Reunion
workshops are held on Satur-
days from 9 a.m. until noon un-
less otherwise noted. The next
scheduled workshop is planned
for Nov. 13 at DeKalb Technical
College, 495 North Indian Drive,
Clarkston. Reunion workshops
required. To register call (770)
492-5000 or visit www.dcvb.org.
Recycling event planned
event to emphasize recycling
and eco-friendly services on
America Recycles Day (ARD) on
Saturday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. - noon
at Georgia Perimeter College,
Clarkston campus, parking lot 4,
in front of the Fine Arts Building
at 555 N. Indian Creek Drive.
With identity theft on the rise,
protecting personal identification
has become even more
important. To protect personal
information, SHRED-IT is
offering free, secured shredding
of sensitive materials. SHRED-IT
will have on-site destruction of
all sensitive documents. These
used in the production of new
products.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010
DEKALB
DECATUR
Soil and water conservation
meeting scheduled
The DeKalb County Soil and
Water Conservation District
monthly meeting will be held on
Friday, Nov. 12, at 10 a.m. at the
Clark Harrison Building, 330 W.
Ponce de Leon Ave. in Decatur.
For additional information call
(770) 761-3020.
Play to be presented at local
church
The James Baldwin play
The Amen Corner will be
performed at Greater Piney
Grove Baptist Church on Nov.
6 and 7. Written in 1955, The
Amen Corner is a three-act
play about Harlem churches,
and focuses on the conflicts
between art and religion, love
of others and love of the Lord,
as well as relationships in the
Black church. Directed by David
K. Price & DK Productions,
the play stars Delesslyn
Kennebrew as Sister Margaret.
Rev. William Flippin Sr., pastor
of Greater Piney Grove Baptist
Church, and Pastor Grace C.
Washington are the executive
producers. Tickets may be
purchased at BaSix Knowledge
Academy, 2941 Columbia Drive,
Decatur, and are $15 advance
purchase and $20 at the door.
Greater Piney Grove Baptist
Church is located at 1879
Glenwood Ave., SE, Atlanta. For
more information, call (404) 289-
8105.
Tea to be held at learning
center
Greenforest’s McCalep Christian
Early Learning Center, which
serves children from the age
of 6 weeks old through 4 years
old will be hosting a Mothers-
To- Be and New Mothers Tea
on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 11
a.m. until 1 p.m. The session
will inform participants about the
center’s standards and provide
information about the benefits of
early childhood education. The
tea will be held in the Genesis
Room of the center at 3250
Rainbow Drive in Decatur. The
session is free but seating is
limited to the first 50 participants
who RSVP to (404) 486-6763.
STONE
MOUNTAIN
PRISM event to support non-
profits
Pride Rings In Stone
Mountain (PRISM) invites
DeKalb residents to support
community non-profits and
charities Thursday, Nov. 11,
7 – 9 p.m. at St. Timothy
United Methodist Church, 5365
Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain.
Residents will also get a chance
to learn more about various
local non-profits and charities.
Among the organizations that
will be present are World Relief,
Friends of Disabled Adults and
Children, Access Resource
Center (ARC), Positive Growth,
Oakhurst Medical, and Toys
for Tots. Organizers welcome
donations of non-perishable food
items and new or gently worn
clothing.
Children’s African Ball
announced
Roots to Fruits Children’s
African Ball, a celebration of
the richness of African heritage
and the African family, will be
held Wednesday, Nov. 13, at
the Atrium Events Center, 5479
Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain.
Special guests include Baba
“Yoga” Bey (libation), Nana
Camille Yarbrough, African
drummers, Asad Khan (opening
meditation), Rakaba West
African Ballet, Mocko-Jumbie
Stilt Dancers, students from
local African-centered schools
such as Roots to Fruits “Green
Babies,” Pearl Academy, Black
Star Educational Institute,
HABESHA, Aya Educational
Institute, Akoben Institute,
Kirikou Cast, and more. For
more information, visit www.
childrensafricanball.com.
www.ChampionNewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 A Section • Page 21A

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 SPORTS
DeKalb High School Sports Highlights Region title
Redan’s Keshawn Sibley (6) fends off a Douglass defender during the Raiders 30-6 victory.
FOOTBALL Photos by Travis Hudgons
Tucker 58, Lithonia 6: Bashr Coles rushed for 224
yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries as the Tigers
(9-0, 9-0 Region 6-AAAA) clinched the region title.
N’Quan Maggett added 139 yards and two touchdowns
on eight carries as the Tigers piled up 403 yards rushing.
Also, quarterback Norman Hayes threw touchdown
passes to Coles and Justin Garrett.
Marist 24, Mays 7: The War Eagles (7-2, 7-2 Region
6-AAAA) took possession of second place in the region
with the win. Marist broke a 7-7 tie at the end of the
first quarter with 17 unanswered points. Andy Perez,
Matthew Barker and Jason Morris each ran for
touchdowns for the War Eagles. Justin Olderman was
one of the defensive leaders with four tackles, four sacks
and two caused fumbles. William Curran and Keller
Carlock each had four tackles.
Southwest DeKalb 7, Miller Grove 0: George Kennedy
rushed for 152 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown, on
16 carries for the Panthers (7-2, 7-2 Region 6-AAAA).
The Panthers rushed for 267 yards and held the
Wolverines to 84 yards total offense. Terrance Smith
led the defense in tackles and had 5.5 sacks. Toran
Davis added 12 tackles for the Panthers, who played the
game a day after a 14-year-old student was killed in a car
accident.
M.L. King 30, East Coweta 23: Jonquel Dawson
passed for 195 yards and four touchdowns, setting the
single-season record for touchdown passes in DeKalb
County with 31. Senior Demarco Robinson caught four
passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns, while Blake
Tibbs and Devin Johnson each caught a touchdown
pass. Kevin Byard added a rushing touchdown for the
See Highlights on page 23
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010 • PAGE 22A
M.L.King defensive backs Alan Carson (7) and Kevin
Byard, left, battle East Coweta receiver Eddie Morris for
the ball in the Lions’ 30-23 win.
on line for
M.L. King,
Stephenson
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
Another M.L. King-Stephenson
showdown, another region title on the
line. It is a script that the two teams
have become familiar with since the
series began in 2006.
Stephenson leads the series 3-1,
with the winner claiming the region
title each year. This is the first time
the game is the regular-season finale
for both teams. M.L. King’s only win
came in 2007.
This year should be a stark con-
trast from last year’s game when each
team had a high-profile running back.
Stephenson has a pair of blue-chip
backs in Mike Davis and Willie Da-
vis. They have rushed for more than
900 yards each. M.L. King’s spread
offense is powered by the quarter-
back-receiver tandem of Jonquel
Dawson and Demarco Robinson.
Dawson has set the single-season
record in the county for touchdown
passes and Robinson has the single-
season touchdown receptions record.
“People know what the ramifica-
tions and magnitude of this game
are,” Lions coach Michael Carson
said. “The region championship is on
the line for both teams every year.”
Both teams have endured rug-
ged pre-region schedules to prepare
for this showdown. Stephenson beat
Parkview, Cedar Grove and Tift
County while M.L. King faced South
Gwinnett, Collins Hill and Valdosta,
all state playoff teams.
“We’ve got to be able to stop
both of the Davis kids,” Carson said.
“This is going to be a huge challenge
for our defense. When you look at
our defense, we’ve overcome a lot
of obstacles and gotten better as the
season has progressed.”
In Region 6-AAAA, Tucker (9-0)
has clinched the region title and No. 1
seed. Marist, Southwest DeKalb and
Mays will take the other three playoff
spots if they can avoid upsets in the
final week of the regular season.
Several other DeKalb County
teams have playoff spots on the line
this weekend in Region 5-AAA and
Region 6-AA. In 5-AAA, Columbia
plays at St. Pius with the winner ad-
vancing to the state playoffs. Cedar
Grove has secured its first playoff
berth since 1999 and can win the
region with a victory at Grady this
weekend.
In Region 6-AA, Decatur can
advance to the playoffs with an upset
of Lovett.
www.ChampionNewspaper.com
District 4 Congressman Hank Johnson executes the coin toss before the M.L. King-East Coweta
game on Oct. 29 at Hallford Stadium. Photo by Travis Hudgons
Highlights from page 22
Lions (6-3, 4-1 Region 2-AAAAA).
Patrick Callaway led the defense with
14 tackles, Malik Nelson had nine tackles
and two sacks and Jared Johnson had
eight tackles and two sacks. The Lions
face Stephenson on Friday with the region
title on the line.
Dunwoody 31, Chamblee 0: The
Wildcats (5-4, 5-4 Region 6-AAAA)
have won three in a row and five of their
past six games after an 0-3 start. Scoring
for the Wildcats were Breon Isaac on
a 20-yard run; Justin King on a 1-yard
run; DeWayne Brown on a 3-yard run;
A.J. Manuel on an 8-yard run; and Zack
Breed on a 26-yard field goal.
Stephenson 17, Newnan 14: Mike Davis
rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown for
the Jaguars (9-0, 5-0 Region 2-AAAAA).
Jordan Tarver scored on a quarterback
CROSS COUNTRY
Region 5-AAA Championships, at
Mercer University, Atlanta
St. Pius swept both the boys and girls
individual and team titles. In the boys
race, Brendan Hoban won with a time
of 16:29 and was one of four Golden
Lions in the top seven. Other top St. Pius
finishers were Austin Sprague (fourth,
17:30) Calvin O’Leary (sixth, 17:39);
and Calvin Tirrell (seventh, 17:43).
Druid Hills placed two runners in the top
10—Andrew Whitten (eighth, 17:51) and
Ray Lamb (ninth, 17:52). St. Pius had the
top three spots and four of the top five in
the girls race. The top finishers for the St.
Pius girls were champion Erin Osment
(20:49), followed by Devon Dabney
(second, 21:27); Taylor Glenn (third,
21:59); and Sarah Fristoe (fifth, 22:08).
Druid Hills placed two girls in the top
10—Melissa Florkowski (seventh, 22:15)
and Mary Kate Leary (ninth, 22:28). The
top four teams and the top 10 individuals
advance to the state meet.
Region 6-AA, at Blessed Trinity
Leonel Ayala of Cross Keys, the
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010
sneak with less than five minutes
remaining to give the Jaguars a 17-14
lead.
Woodward Academy 25, Columbia 7:
The Eagles (6-3, 4-2 Region 5-AAA)
were flagged for 85 yards in penalties and
committed two turnovers in the final 13
minutes of the game. Kenno Loyal rushed
for more than 150 yards and a touchdown
for the Eagles, who will play at St. Pius on
Friday for a berth in the Class AAA state
playoffs.
St. Pius 40, Washington 6: Geno Smith
scored on touchdown runs of 41 and 45
yards, and Logan Rosborough scored
on a 2-yard run for the Golden Lions (7-
2, 5-1 Region 5-AAA). The win secured
the No. 2 seed in 5-AAA, Division A for
St. Pius, which will host a play-in game
Friday against Columbia.
defending AA state champion, placed
second with a time of 17:09.43 and
Javier Garcia of Cross Keys was ninth
in 17:29.64. The Indians placed third in
the team standings and earned a trip to the
state meet.
Region 2-AAAAA, at Luella High
School
Two Stephenson runners placed among
the top 20. Freshman Chaz Berry was
14th in the boys race with a time of
19:17.36. Freshman Brittany Davis
was 17th in the girls race with a time of
25:37.71.
VOLLEYBALL
Marist advanced to the semifinals of the
Class AAAA state tournament before
losing to Chattahoochee 3-0 (25-16, 25-
21, 25-23) on Oct. 27. The War Eagles last
won a state title in 2006 and have played
in the championship match in six of the
past eight seasons.
A Section • Page 23A
The Champion chooses a male and female
high school Athlete of the Week each week
throughout the school year. The choices
are based on performance and nominations
by coaches. Please e-mail nominations to
robert@dekalbchamp.com by Monday at
noon.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jonquel Dawson, M.L. King (football): The
junior quarterback set the single-season record
for passing touchdowns in DeKalb County
after throwing four touchdown passes Oct. 29
in a 30-23 win over Newnan. Dawson has 31
touchdown passes on the season.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Erin Osment, St. Pius, (cross country): The
junior won the Region 5-AAA girls cross
country championship Oct. 30 at Mercer
University in Atlanta with a time of 20:49.14
and led the Golden Lions to the team
championship.
Each week The Champion spotlights former
high school players from the county who are
succeeding in athletics on the college level.
Dwayne Harris, East Carolina
(football): The senior from
Tucker caught nine passes for
146 yards and a touchdown
in the Pirates’ 49-35 loss to
Central Florida on Oct.30.
Harris leads the Pirates with
750 yards receiving.
Treavor Scales, Harvard
(football): The sophomore from
Dunwoody rushed for 124
yards on 18 carries in a 30-14
win over Dartmouth on Oct.
30. It was the second straight
time Scales has rushed for at
least 100 yards in a game this
season.
Ahmed Shakoor, Marshall
(football): The junior defensive
back from Stephenson had
four tackles in a 16-12 win over
Texas-El Paso on homecoming.
Shakoor has 24 tackles on the
season.
 A Section • Page 24A
State basketball champs hit the hardwood for hardware
by Matt Amato
Two DeKalb County girls basket-
ball teams are state champions and
both are missing the rings to prove it.
For Southwest DeKalb and
Columbia, the customary reward
for achieving such a feat could be
delivered with help from a special
preseason game in which proceeds
go to securing the all-important rings.
“Year after year, the best basket-
ball is played here [DeKalb County],
and it’s a chance to see two state
champions play each other,” said
Southwest coach Kathy Walton. “We
don’t get the chance to play each oth-
er, so there’s bragging rights. We’ll be
taking it serious like a regular game.”
Walton has presided over three
AAAA state championships in a row
but thinks an historic fourth may be
out of reach. “I lost eight seniors so
we have to regroup again,” she said.
“The first one is tough, the second is
tougher and the third is toughest.”
Southwest was in a similar posi-
tion with rings last year, and a fund-
raising game was organized with
Redan, which won the Class AAAAA
state title two seasons ago. Walton
said the event was a sellout and that
after learning of Columbia’s predica-
ment she “wanted to try and figure out
a way to help each other.”
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THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010
Since the matchup was announced,
Columbia coach Chantay Frost said
alumni, staff and faculty at the school
were pushing hard for its success.
“Southwest DeKalb and Colum-
bia have had great community support
for a long time,” said Frost, whose
brother attended Southwest. “They’re
very supportive of us, so we’re grate-
ful for the outpouring of respect and
love.”
Columbia graduated four seniors
from its AAA championship team, but
Frost believes the program’s culture
and talent will ensure that the Lady
Eagles stay competitive.
“It’s more difficult to win a sec-
ond, but they’re working hard,” she
said. “Our team GPA average is 3.3,
and most are in AP classes.”
Each ring costs about $350 with
about 30 needed for each team. In
addition to the game, Columbia has
organized a fundraising luncheon in
which Atlanta Dream owner Kathy
Betty is the guest speaker.
Frost said the team also is trying
to secure enough funds to take part in
two out-of-state tournaments later in
the season. All immediate attention,
she said, is focused on the Southwest
game.
“Any time these teams play it’s looking forward to it, and we always west DeKalb High School on Nov. 9
going to be a competitive game and try to win,” she said. at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available in
coach Walton does a great job. We’re The game will take place at South- advance for $5 or $8 at the door.
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