FREEPRESS

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010 • VOL. 13, NO. 29 • FREE

• A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS •

Financial
shortfalls
create
challenges
for county
justice
system
by Nigel Roberts

When county officials

announced multimillion-
dollar budget cuts to offset
DeKalb County’s financial

Cool weather enhances Atlanta Greek Festival

shortfalls, the justice sys-
tem wasn’t spared.
The Superior Court,
the offices of the district
Clear, sunny skies and attorney, the solicitor
cooler temperatures greeted general, the public de-
guests last weekend at the fender and law enforce-
2010 Atlanta Greek Festival. ment are being asked to
Several thousand visitors en- make deep cuts to their
joyed a delicious selection of budgets yet continue
Greek food and beverages, their mandate to protect
music and dancing and au- the public. At the same
thentic Greek arts and crafts. time, they have a consti-
The annual event, held at the tutional responsibility to
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of ensure that the accused
the Annunciation on Clairmont are granted such rights as
Road, took place Sept. 30 to a speedy trial.
Oct. 3. This year’s festival also Superior Court Chief
featured more rides and activi- Judge Cynthia J. Becker
ties for kids. The festival draws already has found ways
large crowds from across metro to cut the court’s $8.5
Atlanta and the state. million to $9 million an-
Photos by Robert Naddra nual budget by approxi-
mately $172,000 through
restructuring. She has
also implemented a “self-
imposed” hiring freeze
on six positions. “We’re
trying to string along the
best we can and, quite
frankly, so that we could
save those salaries until
we absolutely have to fill
[those positions],” she
said.
Despite its belt tight-
ening, the DeKalb Superi-
or Court must continue to
manage a heavy load. In
a typical year, the court’s
10 judges process about
1,500 cases.
Becker and the other
department heads since
late last year have been

See Court on Page 13A

 A Section • Page 2A THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010

DeKalb schools losing

ground in Advanced
Placement scores
Save here.
Let’s face it. Right now, we’re all looking to save. And
by Robert Naddra (including DeKalb School
robert@dekalbchamp.com of the Arts and Elizabeth
Andrews) scored 3 or higher you probably don’t expect to save in the same place
The number of Advanced on 30 percent of the AP tests
Placement tests taken by last school year. Chamblee
students in the DeKalb led the county both with 991 where you find great quality and get treated nicely. But
County School System has tests taken and 66.6 percent
increased steadily since the with scores of 3 or higher actually, at Publix you’ll find thousands of items on sale
2003-04 school year, but the for the 2009-10 school year.
scores have decreased, ac- Tests taken rose from
cording to data released by 6,194 to 7,132 from last year every day—clearly marked, easy to find, with savings
the school system. but the percentage of scores
A total of 7,312 AP tests of 3 or higher dropped from
were taken last school year, 36.4 to 34 percent. highlighted on the shelf and again on your receipt. You’ll
an increase of 57.4 per- “We encourage more
cent from five years ago. students to embrace the AP notice Publix brand products, priced lower than national
However, during that same course challenge,” Beasley
time period, the number of said. “However, we have ob-
tests that were scored a 3 or served that as more students brands without compromising quality. And along the way,
higher dropped from 42.6 have access, scores may be
percent to 34 percent. Stu- impacted initially. However you’ll get helpful service you can’t quite put a price on.
dents receive college credit we are working to improve
on AP tests for scores of 3 or AP exam outcomes by
higher on a scale of 1-5. working with our students So, even when you’re shopping on a budget, you don’t
The county is significant- and teachers.”
ly behind statewide totals The system funds work-
for the percentage of tests shops, summer institutes have to give up the experience you deserve.
graded 3 or higher. and forums for teachers to
Statewide, nearly 60,000 attend to help them be bet-
more AP tests were taken ter prepared to teach the AP
during the 2008-09 school classes, Beasley said.
year than in 2004-05, but the “Teachers have the op-
percentage of scores of 3 or portunity to hone their skills,
higher dropped only 1 per- learn about curricula and
cent in that span. Fifty-four exams, and network with
percent of all tests statewide colleagues from other dis-
in 2008-09 were graded at 3 tricts throughout the United
or higher. States,” Beasley said.
Four years ago the coun- While most schools
ty school system encouraged showed an increase in tests
all students to take at least taken from last year, half
one AP class, according to showed improvement in the
Dr. Morcease Bailey, the percentage of scores of 3 or
system’s interim deputy higher, with three improving
superintendent for teaching by less than 1 percent.
and learning. Clarkston and Stephen-
Several initiatives are in son showed the biggest
place for both students and improvements. Clarkston
teachers to help students had 92 tests taken and 16.3
take advantage of the AP percent (up from 10.1 in
classes. 2008-09) were graded 3 or
“Schools formed AP higher. Stephenson had 551
committees to support stu- tests taken and 23 percent
dents taking AP courses,”
Beasley said. “Schools
(up from 18.4 percent in
2008-09) were graded 3 or Love to shop here. Love to save here.
conduct tutorial sessions, higher.
summer sessions, lunch and Avondale (1.7 percent of
learn sessions, and Saturday 172 tests taken) and Tow-
school to address the needs ers (2.9 percent of 210 tests
of AP students.” taken) had the lowest per-
Only seven of the sys- centage of tests scoring 3 or
tem’s 22 high schools higher. publix.com/save

Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper

 NEWS THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010 • PAGE 3A

Released
convicts
to receive
assistance
through new
grant
by Jonathan Cribbs
jonathan@dekalbchamp.com

People recently released from

DeKalb County Jail will get assis-
tance to help them transition into
a normal life – an effort to reduce
the number who end up returning to
crime and, eventually, jail.
The county sheriff’s office re-
cently received a $424,852 grant for
one year to pay for assistance pro-
grams to get released convicts back
on their feet, said Melissa Manrow,
the sheriff’s special projects coordi-
nator. The county hopes to assist up
to 285 people over three years, she
said.
The money will go toward hous-
ing for the recently released, job
placement assistance, substance
abuse treatment (if necessary) and
MARTA cards, Manrow said.
“When folks are released from
jail they often have lost a lot of ties
in the community that would have
allowed them to conduct themselves
in a legal, (social) way,” she said. “A
lot of these services are services that
you and I might qualify for without
having gone to jail.”
Some jails and prisons across
the country have the money to offer
these services themselves, Manrow
said. DeKalb County doesn’t, so
the jail is partnering with outside
organizations such as CaringWorks
Inc., a Decatur nonprofit dedicated
to affordable housing. The jail also
is working with Stand Inc., another
Decatur organization dedicated to
providing services to ex-offenders as
they re-enter normal life.
Nationwide, 10 million people
are released from jails every year,
Manrow said. About 600,000 are re-
leased from prisons yearly.
“We would like to make our com-
munities as safe as possible,” Man-
row said. “There is a huge volume
of folks churning through the crimi-
nal justice system every year.”
The U.S. Department of Justice
awarded the grant as part of its Sec-
ond Chance Act Prisoner Reentry
Initiative. It’s focused on high-risk
offenders, and the county hopes to
reduce the rate of ex-offenders who
end up in jail by half, according to a
document given to the county board
of commissioners.
The grant period began Oct.
1 and will run through Sept. 30,
2011. No cash match is required by
DeKalb County, and Manrow said
the sheriff’s office hopes to receive
additional grants in the future.
Dunwoody collects more than 100
pounds of prescription drugs
by Matt Amato
A total of 104 pounds of pills
were dropped off at Dunwoody
Police headquarters during a pre-
scription drug turn-in–an initia-
tive designed to keep potentially
hazardous drugs out of the reach
of children and teens. The drugs
later were incinerated by Drug
Enforcement Agency officials.
“We were very impressed with
the response,” said William Fur-
man, a community outreach offi-
cer for Dunwoody police. “It was
more than we initially expected.”
Organized by the DEA, Op-
eration Pill Drop involved several
metro area municipalities.
“Prescription drug abuse is
the nation’s fastest-growing drug
problem, and take-back events
like this one are an indispensable
tool for reducing the threat that
the diversion and abuse of these
drugs pose to public health,”
said Director of National Drug
Water main break forces Dunwoody students to others schools
by Jonathan Cribbs
jonathan@dekalbchamp.com
Dunwoody high and
elementary school students were
forced to attend other schools
for several hours Sept. 29 after
a nearby water main break shut
down both buildings, officials
Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske,
in a press release. “The federal,
state and local collaboration rep-
resented in this initiative is key
in our national efforts to reduce
pharmaceutical drug diversion
and abuse.”
While prescription drug abuse
is a national problem, Furman
was unaware of reported incidents
in Dunwoody involving drugs
taken from parents by children.
“From what I’ve seen it’s not
as [in] prevalent as other cities
but we need to be as proactive as
possible,” he said.
Strong pain killers and mood
relaxants, such as Xanex and
OxyContin, are among the kinds
of prescription drugs experiment-
ed with by teens, say authorities.
Allergic reactions and overdosing
can lead to death.
This year, the initiative also
targeted parents of young chil-
dren. According to DEA statistics,
every year more than two million
said.
A main on Vermack Road
broke at some point in the
morning, said Jeff Dickerson,
DeKalb County School System
spokesman. Neither school was
receiving water, and Dunwoody
High students were taken to
Peachtree Charter Middle School
poison exposures are reported in
the United States. In 2009, more
than 51 percent of reported poi-
sonings in Georgia involved chil-
dren ages 5 and younger.
Despite the strong public re-
sponse, Furman said there were
no plans to establish a permanent
disposal spot in the city.
“[Drug disposal initiatives]
must be done in conjunction with
the DEA,” he said. “They have
the ability to dispose of drugs.”
It is also unclear if Operation
Pill Drop or initiatives like it will
become an annual event.
The department hopes, how-
ever, that adults are now more
aware of how best to keep pre-
scription drugs out of reach from
others.
“Parents should first educate
their kids on the dangers of taking
pills,” said Furman. “The second
thing is to keep them in the high-
est place possible and to always
use child-proof bottles.”
where they ate lunch while
Dunwoody Elementary students
were taken to Chamblee Middle
School, he said.
Students returned to their
normal schools by about 1:30
p.m., Dickerson said. The nearby
break caused no damage to the
schools.
 OPINION THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010 • PAGE 4A

The Newslady
Truth and justice
New Birth congregants and others
are praying for Bishop Long and
his accusers. But not one time has
anyone heard Bishop Long ask any-
one to pray for him, his family, the
church or his accusers. One would
expect to hear a man of the cloth
ask that prayers be lifted for all par-
ties involved. Such has not been the
case.
The allegations against New What we have from the bishop
Birth’s Bishop Eddie Long are is an extremely poor analogy of him
extremely troubling. The charges being a David in a fight against Go-
spelled out in the lawsuits are par- liath. The opposite is true. The four
ticularly damning. Even more both- young men are taking on one of
ersome is that the bishop himself the most powerful preachers in the
has never categorically denied the United States and the world. Who
charges. Instead we’ve gotten defi- is the real David here?
ance and carefully crafted legalese. The two young men who have
In the news reporting business, a been interviewed on television news
good story telling technique is “who have appeared very credible and
says what.” Is it more compelling compelling in their assertions of the
for the reporter to quote the news- loss of innocence and the theft of
maker? For instance, “Bishop Long their manhood. Some will no doubt
through his attorney denies the minimize the young men’s accusa-
charges.” Or, is it more convincing tions by noting that in the eyes of
for the bishop to look into the cam- the law, they are adults and that they
era and say, “As God is my witness, willingly consented to the bishop’s
I am not guilty of having sex with alleged advances in exchange for
those young men.” lavish gifts, money and trips.
The latter is the optimum. What Let’s not hide behind the law
is troubling to many is the fact that or the cross. Men and women who
Bishop Long has never publicly hold the revered titles of minister,
denied the charges. In his statement priest, bishop, rabbi, imam or elder
before reporters, Bishop Long said cannot ever truly have consensual
he was not going to try this case in and/or healthy sexual contact with
the media, that he would leave it a member of the congregation. It is
flat out wrong morally and psycho-
where any sexual contact is express-
ly forbidden for good reason—it al-
most always results in devastation.
For the sake of Bishop Long and
his accusers, anyone with any in-
formation that would either support
or disprove the sexual abuse allega-
tions should come forward now.
They have a moral and civic duty to
speak up.
Regardless of what happens
with the pending lawsuit against
the bishop, these allegations and
the sex-abuse scandal plaguing the
Catholic Church should remind
us all that sexual predators are
not some social misfits, but of-
ten are powerful, charismatic and
well-loved. Usually, predators are
among the last people we would
suspect of sexually violating others.
We must get beyond the notion that
because someone holds a certain
position or is warm and giving that
he or she “couldn’t have done that.”
The Christian clergy are taking
a beating with the scandals in the
Catholic Church and these horrific
charges against Bishop Long, a
man who has led a mighty move
of good here and abroad. Hearts
go out to the Long family, the
members of New Birth, the accus-
ers and those seeking but turned
off by these debacles.
I understand we are not perfect.
I understand “judge not.” I under-
stand “touch not my anointed.” But
anyone can buy some extra virgin
olive oil at the local supermarket
and a little dab will do you. Not for
one millisecond should we condone
hypocritical, deviant sexual behav-
iour on the part of our clergy under
the cloak of the cross and Jesus-
inspired forgiveness.
God cannot be pleased at the de-
basement of his innocents. Bishop
Long’s guilt or innocence is yet to
be determined, but he’s got a whole
lot of explaining to do and right
now it looks very bad for him.
He is wrong to say the only
place where he’ll get justice is in the
court of law. A jury trial in a county
in which his power and influence is
far-reaching might exonerate him of
the charges levelled by at last count
four young men. It’s one thing to be
judged by 12 on this side and quite
another to be carried by six and face
that final judge. Justice will prevail.
Steen Miles, The Newslady, is a
retired journalist and former Geor-
gia state senator. Contact Steen Mi-
lies at Steen@dekalbchamp.com.

FREEPRESS
to the courts, adding, “That’s the
only place where I will get justice.” logically debilitating no matter the
Bishop, there are those who beg to age of the congregant.
differ with you. The Creator will Ministers always hold an ex-
have the final say in all this. Truth alted position of leadership and
and justice will prevail. Balance: it trust. When they have any sexual
is the way of the universe. involvement with parishioners, it
In the meantime while the law- is always wrong and hurtful. It is Let Us Know What You Think!
suits wind their way through the le- like teacher-student, doctor-patient THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS encourages opinions from its readers.
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 www.ChampionNewspaper.com
A voice from the community the day after
by Rev. William F. Brown
williambrownministries@yahoo.com
Emotions are running high as
we struggle to absorb the sensa-
tional impact of the di-
verse responses to Bishop
Eddie Long’s public
statement disclosed Sept.
26 at New Birth Mission-
ary Baptist Church. I have
received numerous phone
calls and e-mails from
both sides of this inflam-
matory issue.
Feelings are mixed Brown
and range from support
to shame, and finally to placing
blame. One person strongly felt
that Long’s statement showed ar-
rogance and was perceived as an
insult to the intelligent mind. In
spite of Long’s dilemma, he is still
a prominent religious leader in the
Christian faith community. His per-
sonal circumstances are sad, dis-
turbing and global as they impact
far more than his immediate com-
munity. The potential fallout from
these allegations is international.
In my opinion, it is not fair for
any of us to make a judgment call
before the facts are known. There
are two sides to this story. Only
Sorry, you’re under surveillance
For governments keen on muz-
zling and thwarting opposition, ter-
rorism is a God-sent cover. A nation
subject to terrorist attack can get
away with deception, surveillance,
secret arrests, harassment, entrap-
ment, censorship, spying, stealing,
and grievous infringements on travel.
Nothing to it…you just cite national
security.
Russia is tops at this, as are Iran, you’ve
Israel, China, Myanmar, and a few
other relatively autocratic lands. The
United States is no slouch either.
Most comical, were it not so serious,
would be the inane no-fly rule. Luck-
ily for Americans, who must all live
with the Department of Homeland
Absurdity, the press is occasionally
willing to describe an egregious an-
ecdote or two.
For example, The Washington
Post recently ran an article detail-
ing a Justice Department admission
that the FBI improperly investigated
Greenpeace and People for the Ethi-
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010
Guest Opinions
the parties involved really know
the unbiased truth. The four young
men who disclosed the alleged
abuse may very well be victims in-
stead of villains. Who is to say?
As a community of
believers, we honor and
glorify God when we line
up behind what is right
rather than who is right.
We need to pray for the
right outcome for all the
believers whose faith in
God may be tested by this
fiasco. The larger picture
is that there are many lives
adversely affected by this
appalling situation.
My own experience dictates to
me, but God deals with our person-
al sins privately. When we ignore
that sin, He will expose that sin.
The Bible says, “Men prefer the
darkness to the light”; also, “what
is done in darkness will come to
light.” Our choices and decisions
have predictable outcomes; it’s
called being held accountable.
Seemingly, the media are in
agreement regarding Long’s public
statement. It came one step short
of proclaimed innocence. I agree
with Long when he said his case
should be tried in a court of justice
cal Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Snafus are easy to come by
under total secrecy. For example,
there’s no way to find out if you’re
on the no-fly list and no known way
to get off it, even if your inclusion
was the result of an obvious screw-
up. Nor can anyone say how big
the list is. The FBI hints from time
to time that it may be as high as
20,000-40,000 people. Private secu-
rity analysts think one million would
be more like it. Guess we’ll have to
wait for WikiLeaks to find out.
Next on the federal target list is
your cell phone. As more and more
of them contain a GPS feature, your
phone company knows not only
where you are at all times, but where
been. Law enforcers drool
over that kind of data and would love
to have access to it without a war-
rant. Since the framers of the Consti-
tution unaccountably overlooked this
question, the courts are hashing it out
now. Keep your fi ngers crossed.
Your phone also holds the obvi-
ous danger of being tapped. Both
presidents Bush and Obama like
that idea. Plenty of illegal tapping
has gone on in all administrations
(remember Richard Nixon?) and
they fi ght like wolverines to keep
getting away with it. Better send a
check to the ACLU.
And when evidence fails or can’t
•PAGE 5A
rather than the media. However, appropriate as the conclusion of
public opinion does matter. In the this commentary: “The value of life
good seasons, public opinion is is not duration but donation. Fill
valued far more! No pun intended. your mind with great reverence for
The God in whom we share our hu- God, unrestrained obedience and
man experience is not perverted or submission to His plans for your
mocked by human behavior. life. Be blessed.”
A case can be made against Eddie Long is a servant of
Long’s mentor relationship with God. The Bible says, “touch not
the late Bishop [Earl] Paulk, my anointed and do my prophets
whose ministry was marred by no harm.”
incest and adultery. But what is Because I honor God and His
the point? A generational curse or Word of counsel, I will love my
perhaps the leaves falling too close brother, pray for all concerned, but
to the tree? Someone just texted a I won’t help to vilify him. Does
picture of Bishop Long striking a my voice matter? It’s a personal
pose in what appears to be tights choice.
in a bathroom. The picture is un- Regardless of the outcome, the
characteristic of his public image; die is cast in cement and the dam-
however, it does not suggest any age is already done in the minds of
unethical acts or sexual behavior. It many. The Christian community is
is sensual, yes, but not sexual. a healing ministry through wound-
I thank God for the many lives ed people. The Christian experi-
that have been touched in a positive ence is a community of believers
way by Bishop Long’s ministry. I in the power and presence of God.
will continue to show brotherly love Pray for healing. My heart goes out
to Eddie Long and the young men to all concerned. Only God, with-
involved. Man is not perfect and can out our intended effort, can help us
err in many ways. all.
This morning my mentor and
friend Rev. William B. Blount, se- Rev. Brown is a volunteer chap-
nior pastor at Greater Young Zion lain for the Georgia Department of
Missionary Baptist Church sent me Corrections, a community leader
a text message. The contents are and youth counselor and mentor.
be gathered quickly enough to war-
rant detention, racial profiling makes
a handy safety net.
But even Caucasian victims
are ignored by the press if they are
abused while opposing certain sacred
activities, like war, trade confer-
ences, banking conclaves or politi-
cal conventions. Those subjects are
a bit too dear to media owners and
advertisers to allow objective report-
ing. One can’t get too excited about
trifles like preventive detentions,
provocateurs, illegal confiscations
or eavesdropping perpetrated on that
kind of dangerous protestor. Protests
that question corporate power need
to be ignored. Who gets covered
instead are the usual “black-clad an-
archists.” Curiously, these agitators
are often seen wearing standard issue
police boots.
Probably the supreme irony of all
this and other government stomping
on civil rights is that it breeds count-
less new enemies. How many more
worldwide jihadists and domestic
extremists do we have to generate
before realizing that true national se-
curity grows from exercising justice,
not oppression?
OtherWords columnist William A.
Collins is a former state representa-
tive and a former mayor of Norwalk,
Connecticut. www.otherwords.org
 A Section • Page 6A
Austerity won't
restore our prosperity
We are trying to prop up an economy
that is a giant Ponzi scheme
In case you haven’t
heard, the economy
is not in great shape. by Donald Kaul
Columnist
We’ve got 10 percent
unemployment, home
foreclosures are soaring,
and the national debt is
exploding. The future looks even worse.
Some people think inflation is on the
way; others think it’s going to be defla-
tion, a condition in which your money
is worth a little more, but you have a lot
less of it.
The good news is that some things
are a lot better than when Barack
Obama took office. The stock market’s
up, our financial system has been saved
from disaster, and our auto industry is
back from the brink of extinction.
But it’s still not good enough, not
even near. And there are signs that the
anemic recovery from the Great Reces-
sion might already be spent.
President Obama’s response from
the beginning has been based on clas-
sic Keynesian economic theory: When
you’re in an economic recession, you
use government programs to put money
into the hands of people, necessarily
spending more than you take in.
This drives conservatives crazy. They
think the thing to do is lower taxes and
cut government spending. They point
to the fact that President Franklin D.
Roosevelt’s New Deal spending didn’t
pull the country out of the Depression
during the 1930s.
Keynesians are quick to argue that
the reason the New Deal wasn’t as ef-
fective as it could have been was that it
was too small. When World War II came
along and government spending really
exploded, the Depression was blown
away.
I’m Keynes guy. The Bush years
were the Golden Age of tax cuts. If they
were such a great idea, why did the
economy go south?
Yet the example of Germany gives
one pause.
Germany, beset with economic
problems similar to the U.S., took the
conservative approach. It restrained
Printed on
100% post-consumer
recycled paper
government spending,
discouraged consumer bor-
rowing, controlled wages,
and balked at bailing out
its neighbors in Europe–all
things that John May-
nard Keynes would have
thought acts of folly.
But the latest quarterly results
showed Germany’s economy growing
at an annual rate of nearly 9 percent, a
figure that dwarfs those of its western
competitors.
Conservatives are now gloating. We
told you so, they’re saying. Austerity
works.
And they may be right in this particu-
lar case, but I would point out that there
are important differences between Ger-
many and the United States. In the first
place, the Germans have a social safety
net in place that would have our con-
servatives yelling “socialism” from the
rooftops. That makes an austerity pro-
gram a little easier to sell. (Sorry to be
the one to break the news, but they’ve
got socialized medicine too.)
In the second place, their prosperity
is based on producing things and export-
ing them, rather than buying and import-
ing, as ours is.
To make that possible they’ve main-
tained a strong industrial base. They
pride themselves on an educational
system that trains workers to run their
factories.
We have let our industrial base crum-
ble into dust and blow away. And we
are now No. 23 among the world’s most
developed countries in the percentage
of our high school students who gradu-
ate, and we’re leading the pack in high
school dropouts.
In other words, it’s just not a matter
of government policy. Germany is deal-
ing from a strong hand, even in hard
times. We are trying to prop up an econ-
omy that is a giant Ponzi scheme.
I don’t know if Obama has the an-
swer to our problems, but I’m pretty
sure that the Republican “Don’t just do
something; stand there!” philosophy
doesn’t work.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010
The following comments are pulled straight from our Web site and
are not edited for content or grammar.
Opinions vary after Long addresses lawsuits
I am on the fence at this point about the accusations. This
is tragic for all involved. I am not a member of New Birth but I
believe that Bishop Long is a dynamic pastor. New Birth has
done a lot of good in the community and for the parishoners.
I hope that the good works continue. However, too many of
us see our Bishop, pastor, etc. as a “larger than life” spiritual
leader. We refuse to see them as men and women with an
annointing. The annointing is not for the leader it is for those
that they minister to. We often refuse to accept the fact that
they may have another side to them. It is that person that we
do not see when they take off the robes and collar. No mat-
ter what happens here, we must accept the reality that God
still uses men and women with faults and failures. It is the
treasure in a sometimes flawed earthen vessel. We should
pray for a quick resolution to all of this. Especially pray for
those young men who have put themselves out in front of
this battle.
-- Follower of Christ posted this on 10/1/10 at 04:11 p.m.
Of course they are afraid. Judge not, lest ye be judged.
However, the Bible says, in all thy getting, get an understand-
ing. God expects us to use discernment. This is not judging,
it is weighing the facts. Many will come, but few are chosen.
Let’s see how this plays out. If he is found guilty, he should
be stripped of his positions, title, and possessions obtained
from the fruit of the congregation. It is a disgrace that he
would do this, because he is held to a higher standard. He
KNOWS THE WORD...or so we would like to believe. Ven-
gance is mine, sayeth the Lord. He will get his just reward or
punishments.
–Speshalk posted this on 10/1/10 at 11:18 a.m.
Glenwood Road residents march to stop crime
I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Hasan’s comments. I’ve
been a resident of the Meadowdale subdivision off Glenwood
Road for four years. I often drive to nearby Avondale Estates
to fill up with gas and I shop for groceries at the Publix in
East Lake because I have two young children and do not
want to subject them to the foul language, rude behavior and
panhandling that I experience when I visit the stores closest
to my home.There is even a county park in walking distance
from my home that we rarely visit unless it is empty since
I often hear gunshots coming from the park. Today I came
home from work with my kids and saw a used condom in the
middle of my front yard. Every week I have to pick up beer
cans and bottles, fast food wrappers and empty cigarette
packs from the area of my yard that borders the sidewalk.
I’ve even found crack pipes there. Enough IS enough! I’m
sorry I didn’t know about the march....I would have been
there. Thank you to those that WERE there.
–Concerned Property Owner posted this on 9/30/10 at 8:16
p.m.
www.ChampionNewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010 A Section • Page 7A

DeKalb Police Alliance announces nominees Herb Chereck

for Public Safety Champion awards Champion of the Week
The DeKalb Police Alliance and James; Jerry Cullen and James Floyd, has doubled since
The Champion Newspaper recently Northwoods Neighborhood Watch Chereck has been
announced the nominees for the 2010 Program (NWP); DeKalb Officers involved, and it
Public Safety Champion Awards. These Speak; Orrin Hudson, Be Someone could grow even
awards honor sworn police officers, Inc; Joscelyn O’Neil, Greater Towers more next year. The
community members and organizations in Community; Joe Arrington, Les event is capped at
DeKalb County and all DeKalb cities that Chateaux Community; Joan and Arnold 50 tables because
have a positive impact on public safety. Kurth, North Briarcliff Civic Association of space constraints,
NWP; Kru Olsen, Embry Hills NWP but it will expand to
2010 Public Safety Champion “The publishers and staff of The accommodate more
Awards nominees: Champion are happy to play a role in the tables and attendees
recognition of DeKalb Police Alliance’s next year, Chereck
Police Officers: 2010 Public Safety Champion Awards. said.
Captain Myron Logan, DKPD; Each week, we feature community The event is put on
Education Specialist Janean Hightower, champions in our newspapers and know by the city of Decatur
DKPD; Lt. Greg Ivanov, DKPD; Major first hand how important recognition and the Decatur Arts
Lionel Higdon, commander Center for a job well done is to those who go Alliance.
Precinct; Master Animal Control Officer above and beyond what is expected,” “They’re the
K.D. Hearst; Officer Glen Jefferson, said Carolyn Glenn, publisher of The Combining his perfect group of
Lithonia PD; Lt. Oliver Fladrich, Champion and The Champion Free Press profession and passion people to work with,”
Dunwoody PD; Chief John King, City newspapers. into a volunteer activity Chereck said.
of Doraville; Officer William “Rusty” Launching the Public Safety has been a natural fit Chereck gives back
Furman, Dunwoody PD; Officer Champion Awards advances public for Decatur Package to the community
Christopher Mack, DKPD; Officer A.T. safety and security. The DeKalb Police Store owner Herb through the festival in
Watts, DKPD; Lt. K.T. Hunter, DKPD, Alliance develops and garners public Chereck. another way, as well.
Tucker Precinct; Officer J.A. Obester, support for crucial projects and programs Chereck has been For the past several
DKPD Headquarters; Deputy Clyburn that provide additional resources to our involved with the years he has held a
Halley, Jr., DeKalb County Sheriff’s dedicated officers in all DeKalb County Decatur Wine Festival raffle to give away
Office; Sgt. Larry Williams, Lithonia and DeKalb cities to enhance their work since moving to promotional 3-liter
PD; Officer Daryl Yarbro, DKPD, North and promote greater safety and peace. Decatur in 2003 and bottles of wine. In
Precinct; Chief Tony Scipio, Clarkston “We are honored that The Champion opening his business. years past proceeds
PD; Officer Kenneth W. Sapp, DKPD; newspapers partnered with us to present After assisting for had gone to the
Officer Richard LePage, Jr., DKPD, this year’s awards. Their efforts went the first few years, Decatur Arts Alliance
East Precinct; Sgt. Roy B. Peeler, well beyond expectation, said Carolyn Chereck works with but now the money
DKPD, East Precinct; Corporal Paul Rehling, DPA chairwoman. “The quality the distributors and goes to the Decatur
Conroy, Avondale Estates PD; Beth of nominees could not be surpassed. suppliers at the event, Youth Fund. The
Burgess, DEMA; Sgt. Nicole Hines, East Determining this year’s winners was very which is the largest raffle generates an
Precinct difficult.” outdoor wine festival in estimated $1,000 each
For more details about the fourth the Atlanta area. year, Chereck said.
Community Members and annual Police Officers Ball, visit www. The festival features “The youth fund
Organizations: dekalbpolicealliance.org or e-mail 50 tables with more provides supervised
Grant Knox, Volunteer Center Precinct, deborah.spector@dekalbpolicealliance. than 350 wines and after-school activities
DeKalb County Traffic Engineering org. draws about 2,000 for kids, with an art
Division; Solicitor General Robert attendees every year. theme,” Chereck
This year’s festival is said. “It’s a great
Nov. 7. organization we’re
“When I bought happy to be able to
the store, the festival help.”
had been going on for Before coming to
about a year,” Chereck Decatur, Chereck said
said. “I heard about he owned a package
it from a customer, store in Alpharetta for
and I thought ‘what a 10 years.
great opportunity.’ It’s “I’ve been in this
a mile from my store business for 20 years
and it would give me a and you always learn
chance to get to know something new,”
the people in this city.” Chereck said. “There’s
The attendance way too much to know,
at the wine festival and you never stop
learning.”

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, OCTOBER 8, 2010

What is a street gang?

A street gang is any organization, association or

group of three or more people associated formally or
informally that engages in criminal activity, according
to the Georgia Gang Act. The existence of such an
organization, association or group of people may
be established by evidence of a common name or
identifying sign, symbol, tattoos, graffiti, attire or other
distinguishing characteristics.

How do you know if your child is involved with a

gang?
• Develops anti-social behavior
• Sells or uses drugs
• Known by a nickname, street name or moniker
• Wears clothing of a particular color or style
• Gets tattoos
• Associates with other known gang members
• Appears to have been involved in fights
• Becomes evasive when questioned
• Grades in school drop
• Unusual writing or symbols on notebooks, school
books, clothing, et cetera
• Gets involved in criminal activities or is arrested
SOURCE: DeKalb County Police

Experts:
Education, tighter laws keys to fighting gangs in DeKalb
by Jonathan Cribbs
jonathan@dekalbchamp.
com
Parents will need to be
better-educated and the fed-
eral government needs to
create stricter laws to help
law enforcement fight gangs
in DeKalb County and met-
ro Atlanta, county experts
said recently.
In a county responsible
for two-thirds of the state’s
gang convictions, law en-
forcement’s fight against
gangs has been bolstered
significantly by the General
Assembly’s passage of the
2006 Gang Act, which al-
lowed prosecutors more ef-
fective ways to break gangs
statewide, said Michael
Carlson, a county deputy
chief assistant district attor-
ney and head of the district
attorney’s gang unit.
But the number of people
in gangs nationwide (es-
timated at 1 million) dra-
matically overshadows the
number of people in the
American Mafia at its apex
(3,000 to 5,000), he said.
They’re less organized and
their goals are different.
“Gangs are about vio-
lence, about imposing your
will… and it’s about impos-
ing that on everyone, not
just rivals,” Carlson said.
Gangs are more danger-
ous, in fact, than the Mafia,
which was essentially a
massive, illegal business
operation driven by profit,
he said.
Carlson and other law
enforcement officials spoke
before a small audience last
month as part of an educa- come down the hallways,” would allow the federal
tion series organized by the he said. government to prosecute
DeKalb Bar Association. But parents need to pay gangs, not unlike the rack-
Gangs in the Atlanta and attention to their child’s be- eteering laws it used to de-
DeKalb County area are havior to make sure he’s not stroy the Mafia, would help
different than gangs in Los involved in gang activity. the country’s gang problem,
Angeles or New York, said Clothes, for instance, can Carlson said.
county officer Theodore be an important sign, and “No matter what goes on
Golden, part of the force’s the signs can be extremely out there about ‘no snitch-
gang unit. subtle. Golden described an ing,’ gang members snitch,”
“It’s almost like a fad MS-13 gang member who he said. “Almost without
now,” he said. attended a county school exception.”
Many students get in- that required uniforms. So,
volved in gangs out of a the student found a belt with
need for a sense of belong- a metal buckle that featured
ing rather than an urge to the number 13.
commit violence, Golden “If you open your eyes
said. and look, you can see what
“(They) like the way that you’re looking for,” he said.
the halls part when they A law, however, that Celebrating more than 70 Years
of Service
EVENTS
REMEMBER SERVICE CHANGES! SEPT 25, 2010
BE PREPARED FOR MARTA
SERVICE CHANGES 9/25/10: October 14th – Special Breakfast Meeting
– The Honorable David Strickland - You're
invited to hear David Strickland the
Detailed information explaining how to adjust your National Highway Transportation Safety

Lewis seeking a new

commute due to changes is available in various for- Administration Administrator share with
various members of the DeKalb County
mats: • www.itsmarta.com for interactive links show- community various federal initiatives

lawyer in corruption case
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
Former DeKalb County School System Superintendent
Crawford Lewis is without a lawyer because of a conflict
of interest in his corruption case.
DeKalb Superior Court Judge Cynthia Becker ruled
Oct. 1 that the circumstances disqualified Lewis’ lawyer
Mike Brown. Brown’s law firm, Alston & Bird LLP, also
represents a witness for the state in the case.
Lewis, former chief operating officer Pat Reid and
her former husband Tony Pope were indicted in May on
criminal charges.
“The order speaks for itself,” said Don Geary, chief
assistant district attorney.
ing bus route changes as well as text descriptions. • Printed booklets in RideStores or related to highway and transportation
safety and consumer protection. Cost -
mailed upon request through the website or by calling Customer Service at 404-848- $10.00 members / $25.00 General
Admission.
5000. • Route maps and descriptions posted in all bus bays • Call 404 848-5000 and
ask one of our Customer Service agents to help you plan your trip. October 14th – ½ Day Email Marketing
Mega Workshop – Presented by Constant
Contact. Free to attend. Visit
BREEZE CHANGES: OCT. 3, 2010 www.dekalbchamber.org to sign up.
• Multi-Day Breeze passes go up in price.
October 20th - Network DeKalb Leads
• Breeze Tickets and Cards modified. Group – Fourth Quarter . Take part in a
pure Networking Program. Lunch Served.
• Reloading at bus fareboxes made easier. Location: Courtyard by Marriott. To
register, visit www.dekalbchamber.org.
COST: $10.00- Members (advance) /
Fewer Restrooms Open. Nine stations at end-of-line & transfer $15.00 (door) /$20.00 Non-members.
hubs will have public restrooms open 6am-7pm. Five Points restrooms will
remain open until 10 pm.
RideStores Open at Airport and Five Points stations only.
Limited Office Hours for Reduced Fare and Lost & Found.
For more information on DeKalb Chamber related
events or to receive email updates, call 404-378-
404 848-5000 TTY: 404 848-5665 www.itsmarta.com 8000 or visit www.dekalbchamber.org
www.ChampionNewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010 A Section • Page 9A

County has early voting goal of 100,000 ballots

by Nigel Roberts
More than 2,175 DeKalb
voters had cast early ballots
by midday on Oct. 1, accord-
ing to Phyllis Wheeler, the
county’s assistant elections
director. Those voters con-
tributed to a county goal of
100,000 early ballots before
the Nov. 2 general election.
DeKalb Chief Execu-
tive Officer Burrell Ellis
and Board of Commission-
ers Presiding Officer Larry
Johnson announced on Sep.
15 the launch Vote DeKalb,
a non-partisan early voting
campaign. County officials
are calling on leaders in the
faith and civic communities
to promote early voting and
to persuade their members to
cast early ballots.
“It’s good to get out early
because this is a part of our
right,” stated Johnson. “It
shows people that you are en-
thused. It shows people that
you are excited. It reminds
people how important and
critical it is to vote.”
In addition to federal and
statewide races on the ballot,
DeKalb voters will choose
between candidates for sev-
eral competitive races for the
General Assembly, county
district attorney, Superior
Court judge and education
board. Voters will also decide
on ballot questions regarding
homestead exemption, an-
nexation and redevelopment.
Wheeler said there have
not been any significant prob-
lems at the polling station,
which could range from voter
ID issues to electronic voting
machine malfunctions. She
reminds voters that state law
requires them to bring one of
six types of valid government
photo IDs to the polling sta-
tion, which includes a Geor-
gia driver’s license or a U.S.
passport.
Early voting began on
Sept. 20 and continues
through Oct. 22, Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. at the Voter Registra-
tion and Election Main Office
located at 4380 Memorial
Drive in Decatur. Wheeler
said this year there will be
two additional early voting
days: Oct. 16 and Oct. 23,
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A special early election
period one week before Elec-
tion Day, designated as ad-
vance voting, runs from Oct.
25 through Oct. 29. During
that period, election officials
expand the number of polling
locations and hours of opera-
tions.
In addition to voting at
the main office during the
week of advance voting, vot-
ers could cast their ballot at
four satellite locations: Clark
Harrison Building, Room
A, 330 W. Ponce De Leon
Ave. in Decatur; Chamblee
Civic Center, 3540 Broad
St. in Chamblee; DeKalb
County Fire Headquarters,
Training Conference Room,
1950 West Exchange Place in
Tucker; and Porter Sanford
III Performing Arts and Com-
munity Center, 3181 Rain-
bow Dr. in Decatur. Advance
voting hours are from 7 a.m.
to 7 p.m.

GooD HealtH is just around the corner

Now it’s easier than ever to enjoy good health Enroll in a Kaiser Permanente health plan, and you’ll learn what
our many satisfied DeKalb County members already know: Kaiser
in DeKalb County. With four Kaiser Permanente Permanente is truly different.
medical centers in the area, convenient care
n Choose your doctor from our own, carefully selected experts who care
from great doctors is close to home or work. exclusively for Kaiser Permanente members
n High-tech medical centers with doctors, specialists, lab, X-ray, and even
To learn more, call (404) 261-2590 (TTY: 1-800-255-0056), talk to your pharmacy—all coordinated, and all under one roof
employer or broker, or visit kp.org.
n Secure access to your doctor and medical information online

kp.org
Crescent Medical Center Downtown Decatur Panola Medical Center Stonecrest Medical Center
200 Crescent Centre Parkway Medical Office 5440 Hillandale Drive 8011 Mall Parkway
Tucker, GA 30084 201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite A Lithonia, GA 30058 Lithonia, GA 30038
Decatur, GA 30030

AD-100434 08/10 Nine Piedmont Center • 3495 Piedmont Road, NE • Atlanta, GA 30305 • (404) 364-7000 ©2010 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc.
 BUSINESS THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010 • PAGE 10A
Photo by Robert Naddra
Rebecca Hadj Taieb. Photos by Kathy Mitchell
Wine shop a welcome addition
to downtown Avondale Estates
by Kathy Mitchell
kathy@dekalbchamp.com
If the size of the crowd at
the Sept. 30 grand opening
of The Little Wine Shop
in Avondale Estates is an
indication, owner Rebecca
Hadj Taieb has a hit on her
hands.
By the 7 p.m. starting time
parking spaces were tough to
find and people were squeezing
into the little space on North
Avondale Road to participate in
the wine tastings and examine
the vast array of wines and
wine-related items the new
business is offering.
“I think everybody in
Avondale Estates is here,”
a visitor in the crowd
commented.
“And Decatur and
Oakhurst,” her companion
added.
After years in corporate
sales, Hadj Taieb left to have
a baby. When she was ready
to return to work, she decided
she didn’t want to return to
the corporate environment. “I
wanted something with more
flexibility, I thought it would be
nice to own a retail business, so
I started looking at franchises,”
she recalled.
She couldn’t find a franchise
that quite suited her and was
about to give up on the idea
when childhood friend Marty
Shaver told her about what
he described as a beautiful
building on the main street in
Avondale Estates. “I’d put a
wine shop in here,” said Shaver,
a certified wine specialist.
Hadj Taieb told Shaver she’d
do it if he would curate the
inventory and come on as the
general manager. He agreed.
From the day Hadj Taieb
first looked at the retail space
on North Avondale Road to her
“soft opening” on Sept. 15, was
only five and a half months.
The 1,400-square-foot shop has
an inventory about 300 labels
from around the globe and
about 1,000 bottles of wine.
There also is a selection of
artisan breads, cheeses, meats
and specialty gift items. “We
can put together a lovely gift
package with the wine, maybe a
bucket and some items to make
a nice presentation,” she said.
“We have been careful to
select good wine, but in this
economy we are sensitive to
price,” Hadj Taieb said. “About
50 percent of our wines sell for
$10-$15. About 30 percent are
between $15 and $20, and we
have some special selections
that are a little higher.”
She said that the city of
Avondale Estates, from city
officials to residents, have
been very supportive. “People
keep telling me that they are
so happy to have us as part of
the city, and we are excited to
be part of a growing, vibrant
community like Avondale
Estates,” Hadj Taieb said.
“Wine is something that brings
people together, and we look
forward to being part of many
of our neighbors’ celebrations
in the years to come.”
She said The Little Wine
Shop will be home base for a
wine club and is available for
rental for such private events as
wine tastings. “We’ve already
hosted a wine tasting birthday
party. Isn’t that an interesting
idea for celebrating a birthday?
It’s also a great way to celebrate
other things or just have a girls’
night out,” Hadj Taieb said. The
Little Wine Shop, she explained
has a tasting license, “which
means I can pour you a taste of
wine—about three ounces—but
not a glass of wine.”
She said the shop also will
host its own special events
from time to time. For a listing
of upcoming events, visit www.
thelittlewineshopatl.com.
 HEALTH THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010 • PAGE 11A

Results promising in PHYSICIAN

groundbreaking heart SEMINAR

beyond
valve study at Emory

PUSHING
A new way of replacing diseased aortic
heart valves in patients too frail or sick to
withstand the traditional open-heart surgical
approach proved promising in a study pub-
lished in the New England Journal of Medi-
cine.
Since October 2007, Emory University
Hospital has been one of approximately 20
hospitals nationwide, and the only site in
Georgia, studying the groundbreaking non-
surgical treatment option for patients suffering
from severe aortic stenosis. The life threaten-
ing heart condition affects tens of thousands
of Americans each year when the aortic valve
tightens or narrows, preventing blood from
flowing through normally.
As part of the Phase II clinical trial, Emory
Heart and Vascular Center cardiologists and
cardiothoracic surgeons performed transcath-
eter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) compar-
ing this procedure with traditional, open-heart
surgery or medication therapy in high-risk
patients with aortic stenosis.
The study followed 358 patients who
received either catheter-delivered valves or
standard non-surgical treatment. The findings
showed that patients who had replacement
heart valves delivered by catheter were more
likely to survive a year than patients who
were treated without replacing their original
Health department
valves. According to the authors, catheter-de-
livered valves “should be the new standard of
care” for patients who are not able to undergo
offers tips to prevent
surgery.
During the TAVI procedure, doctors cre-
ate a small incision in the groin or chest wall
and then feed the new valve, mounted on a
mosquito bites this fall Want a
wire mesh on a catheter. Once the catheter is Even though summer trimming tall grass, weeds and Good
properly positioned in the opening of the aor-
tic valve, the new valve is rapidly expanded.
has ended, mosquito season
continues.
vines;
• rake up fallen magnolia leaves;
Night’s
As it expands it pushes the diseased, native The DeKalb County Board • make sure window and door Sleep?
valve aside, allowing blood to flow normally of Health advises everyone to screens fit tightly to keep
through the implanted valve to the rest of the take steps to prevent mosquito mosquitoes out of your home; Thursday,
body. bites this fall. Individuals • keep water containers like October 14, 2010
“These results show great promise for pa- should take particular care when rain barrels and cisterns from
tients with severe aortic stenosis and help us doing yard work, such as raking breeding mosquitoes;
6:30–7:30 p.m.
make a giant step forward in our battle against and gardening. Mosquitoes • use screens or mosquito
this common disease,” said Peter Block, will continue to bite when larvicide products. A larvicide
Dr. Bobbie Bailey
M.D., professor of medicine, Emory School temperatures go as low as 50 is a chemical that kills
of Medicine and principal investigator of the degrees, even after a frost. mosquitoes before they are old Tower Auditorium,
study. “They are especially important since Five DeKalb residents have enough to fly. N. Decatur Campus
the number of people with failing valves is been diagnosed with West • reduce outdoor exposure at
expected to greatly increase as baby boomers Nile virus this year. Infected dawn and dusk, when the Do you have trouble waking in
continue to age.” mosquitoes transmit the virus mosquitoes that transmit West the morning? Feel tired all day?
Aortic valve stenosis often occurs with when they bite humans. The Nile virus are most active.
Join Joseph D. Weissman, M.D.,
age, most commonly among patients older three men and two women live • on skin, use an insect repellent
than 70 years of age, but can surface earlier in in Decatur, Tucker and Atlanta. containing DEET, picaridin, oil a neurologist and sleep disorder
life in those with rheumatic heart disease or Their ages are 39, 41, 46, 50 and of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. specialist, to learn about sleep
congenital abnormalities of the valve, accord- 87. Apply according to label disorders. He will discuss tips
ing to Emory officials. Patients often develop These cases call attention instructions. for improving sleep and explain
symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, to the need to continue taking • spray clothing with products when you should seek help to
fainting spells and heart failure, they said. precautions against being bitten containing permethrin;
treat sleep problems.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is by mosquitoes. The Board of • wear long-sleeved shirts, long
not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Health strongly recommends that pants and socks when outdoors, FREE SEMINAR
Administration (FDA) and therefore is only you: particularly atdawn and dusk Appointments are required.
available in a few centers throughout the • reduce mosquito breeding and in areas with large numbers
Call 404.501.WELL to reserve
country, including Emory, the first center in in your yard by eliminating of mosquitoes.
your space in this FREE lecture.
the Southeast and one of the five largest cen- standing water in gutters and For more information, contact
ters in the country. Approximately 90 patients items such as planters, toys, the DeKalb County Board of
have received new valves at Emory since the wheelbarrows and old tires; Health at (404) 508-7871 or visit
clinical trial started in 2007. It is anticipated • discourage mosquitoes www.dekalbhealth.net.
that this valve will receive FDA approval in from resting in your yard by
late 2011.
www.dekalbmedical.org
 A Section • Page 12A THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010

Charges dropped in
strip club killing
Attorney finds new evidence exonerating two men
by Jonathan Cribbs when they’re making bank Bill, were well-known in the
jonathan@dekalbchamp.com deposits. Businesses that county’s club industry over
deal in large amounts of the last several decades. Bill
Murder charges were cash can become targets for Stephenson sold his inter-
dropped against two men criminals. est in Clarkston’s Stroker’s
arrested last month in the Stephenson was mar- nightclub several years ago.
killing of a strip club co- ried and had three children. He died about a year and a
owner just east of Decatur, an He and his deceased father, half ago.
attorney for one of the men
said.
Joey Celestin and Bill
Nichols were arrested after DeKalb County Wants to Hear From You
the Sept. 7 killing of Terry
Stephenson, co-owner of Regarding the Proposed Franchise Agreement Renewal
Pin Up’s, a strip club on with Comcast Cable Communications
East Ponce de Leon Avenue.
Stephenson was shot in the Send your comments and/or concerns regarding Comcast’s current performance under
club parking lot carrying cash the current franchise agreement and/or the future cable-related needs and interests of
from Labor Day weekend on your community to cable@co.dekalb.ga.us.
his way to the bank at about 1
p.m. The cash was stolen and The Champion Weather Oct. 7, 2010
the shooters fled. Seven Day Forecast In-Depth Local Forecast Today's Regional Map Weather History
Celestin and Nichols were Today we will see sunny skies with a high Oct. 7, 1989 - Morning thunder-
to attend a bond hearing late THURSDAY temperature of 80º, humidity of 43% and storms in central Texas drenched
last month, but Celestin’s Sunny an overnight low of 52º. The record high San Antonio with 3.1 inches of
Dunwoody
lawyer Mike Jacobs said High: 80 Low: 52 temperature for today is 89º set in 1939. 78/51 Lilburn rain in six hours, causing local
he introduced new evidence Friday, skies will remain sunny with a Smyrna Doraville 79/52 flooding in northeastern sections
that led to their Sept. 30 FRIDAY high temperature of 80º. 79/52 of the city. Temperatures dipped
79/52
release. Jacobs said he found Sunny
Decatur
Snellville below the freezing mark from
a new witness who heard the High: 80 Low: 50 *Last Week’s Almanac 80/52 the northern Rockies to the
Atlanta 80/52
gunshots from inside the club Date Hi Lo Normals Precip Upper Mississippi Valley.
80/52
SATURDAY Tuesday 75 54 79/60 0.01" Lithonia
and looked at his computer Wednesday 77 53 78/60 0.02" College Park
Sunny 81/52
and his BlackBerry, which High: 83 Low: 52 Thursday 74 62 78/59 0.85" 81/52 Oct. 8, 1982 - An unusually
Morrow
showed the time was exactly Friday 79 58 78/59 0.00"
early snowstorm hit the northern
81/52
1 p.m. SUNDAY Saturday 77 55 78/58 0.00" Union City
Black Hills of Wyoming and
Celestin and Nichols were Sunny Sunday 68 51 77/58 0.00" 81/52
South Dakota. The storm
seen eating lunch in the club produced up to 54 inches of
High: 81 Low: 53 Monday 68 45 77/57 0.00"
and left the building shortly Hampton snow and winds as high as 70
Rainfall . . . . . . .0.88" Average temp . .64.0
82/53 mph. Rapid City, 20 miles away,
before Stephenson was shot. MONDAY Normal rainfall . .0.82" Average normal 68.3
received just a trace of snow.
A dancer at the club pinned Sunny Departure . . . . .+0.06" Departure . . . . .-4.3
the killing on them, but High: 79 Low: 51 *Data as reported from De Kalb-Peachtree Airport
Jacobs said he showed law Local Sun/Moon Chart This Week Tonight's Planets
enforcement officials that TUESDAY Day Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset
Rise Set
both of them had clocked in Partly Cloudy New Thursday 7:36 a.m. 7:14 p.m. 7:25 a.m. 6:55 p.m. Full
Mercury 7:01 a.m. 7:01 p.m.
for work at Atlanta Kitchen in High: 79 Low: 55 10/7 Friday 7:36 a.m. 7:12 p.m. 8:36 a.m. 7:35 p.m. 10/22
Venus 10:08 a.m. 8:03 p.m.
Decatur at 1 p.m. – the same Saturday 7:37 a.m. 7:11 p.m. 9:47 a.m. 8:19 p.m.
Mars 10:08 a.m. 8:40 p.m.
time as the shooting. WEDNESDAY Sunday 7:38 a.m. 7:10 p.m. 10:56 a.m. 9:08 p.m.
Jupiter 6:25 p.m. 6:17 a.m.
“It all matched up,” Jacobs Mostly Sunny First Monday 7:39 a.m. 7:09 p.m. 12:00 p.m. 10:01 p.m. Last Saturn 7:09 a.m. 7:05 p.m.
said. High: 78 Low: 56 10/14 Tuesday 7:39 a.m. 7:07 p.m. 12:57 p.m. 10:58 p.m. 10/30 Uranus 6:27 p.m. 6:26 a.m.
The initial call to police Wednesday 7:40 a.m. 7:06 p.m. 1:46 p.m. 11:57 p.m.
identified a black Cadillac Local UV Index National Weather Summary This Week Weather Trivia
sedan pulling out of the club
?
The Northeast will see isolated showers today, mostly clear to partly cloudy skies
parking lot after the shooting. Friday and Saturday, with the highest temperature of 78º in Carbondale, Ill. The What is ombrophobia?
But Celestin and Nichols 0 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+ Southeast will see mostly clear skies today through Saturday, with the highest
were riding in a blue Dodge temperature of 87º in Natchez, Miss. The Northwest will see mostly clear to partly cloudy skies
UV Index
Charger, Jacobs said. His new 0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate, with a few showers and thunderstorms today through Saturday, with the highest temperature of Answer: Ombrophobia is the fear
of rain.
witness, however, also saw a 6-7: High, 8-10: Very High 83º in Jordan, Mont. The Southwest will see mostly clear skies today through Saturday, with the
black Cadillac sedan pulling 11+: Extreme Exposure highest temperature of 91º in Gila Bend, Ariz. © 2010. Accessweather.com, Inc.
out from behind the club right
StarWatch By Gary Becker - Swimming in the Sky
after the shots were fired, he
This week offers a good opportunity to become better acquainted with the autumn sky. The moon will be new on Thursday at 2:44 p.m., EDT, so it will provide no degra-
said. dation to the heavens if the weather cooperates. If you are outside at 9:00 p.m., the first object that should greet you is brilliant star-like Jupiter about one third of the way
It was an atypical day up in the southeastern sky. It is the only saving grace for the celestial wanderers. In August it was planets galore, with Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn visible after sun-
when Stephenson was at- down in the west. Jupiter became prominent a few hours later in the southeast. Now Jove is the only holdout, but luckily for us, gracing the sky for most of the night. If
tacked because the banks had you have a good southern exposure, look for a brilliant but lonely star in the SSE below and to Jupiter’s right. You’ll be viewing the brightest star of the constellation Piscis Austrinus, the
been closed Monday due to Southern Fish, called Fomalhaut. Above and to Fomalhaut’s right is Capricornus the Sea Goat, and to the left, Aquarius the Water Bearer. If you’ve gotten the impression that this is the
the holiday, so when Stephen- water district of the sky, you’re correct; but the seas are murky, and these star patterns are only easily visible from rural locales. That also includes Pisces the Fish which lies to the left of
son left the club, he was carry- Aquarius and Cetus the Whale or Sea Monster, which is positioned farther south. See the online map included with this article. If you connect Fomalhaut and Jupiter you will be able to
view Pegasus the Flying Horse jumping from the foam of the sea. Move upward along a straight line between these two objects and you will come to the left side of the Great Square of
ing an extra day’s cash. Clubs Pegasus, the body of the horse. At 9:00 p.m. the large square will look more like a baseball diamond because of its angle to the horizon. All of the luminaries of the Great Square are as
often use off-duty police of- bright as the stars of the Big Dipper, making Pegasus the only easily recognized pattern of the water group. www.astronomy.org
ficers to escort club workers
 www.ChampionNewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010 A Section • PAGE 13A

Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center attracting more bookings

by Gale Horton Gay
It’s looking as if 2010 will end
up being a busy year for the Sanford
Porter Performing Arts Center.
The center, which opened in
December 2009, is on track to have
hosted some 400 events in 2010, ac-
cording to Jason Lary, the venue’s
marketing and production represen-
tative. Those events include recep-
tions, film releases and theatrical
productions.
The activity follows an initial
slow start for the center—partly due
to the economy and it being a new
venue. The Porter Sanford Perform-
ing Arts Center includes a 500-seat
theater, reception lobby, a black box
theater, meeting rooms as well as
display space.
“We are seeing more bookings,
and we are getting name-brand
bookings,” said Lary, noting that he
expects to see more bookings such
as ABC’s Nightline program, which
came to the center to tape a panel
discussion titled Why Can’t a Suc-
cessful Black Woman Find a Man.
“We hope to do more of these
broadcast-level shows,” said Lary.
“We are very technically profi-
cient.”
Lary said the center offers an ar-
ray of high-tech features including:
• High-definition projectors and
screens
• State-of-the-art digital lighting
• Digital audio and sound
Kenny Leon’s True Colors The-
atre Company has scheduled a six-
week run of its production of The
Colored Museum for March and
April 2011, according to Lary.
This month four events are sched-
uled thus far:
• The Ramblers Tales: Prodigal,
a Caribbean comedy, on Oct. 16
• On Oct. 17, the comedy mur-
der mystery Who Killed Uncle
Pete?
• Film screening of Mas Man Pe-
ter Minshall on Oct. 22
• Live broadcast of the Steve
Harvey Morning Show on Oct.
22
Lary said he is using “new age”
ways to reach potential customers
including e-mail and Internet-driven
advertising and marketing ap-
proaches.
Next year jazz concerts and din-
ner theater may be among the new
offerings at the center, he said.
The Porter Sanford Center’s
location off Rainbow Drive in
Decatur is also one of the reasons
for its growing popularity, Lary
notes, explaining that there is a
great deal of “interest and need in
south DeKalb.”

Court: Continued From Page 1A

battling to prevent severe cuts to
the justice system.
“From soup to nuts, we
handle everything from name
changes, adoptions to death
penalty cases, tax and zoning
appeals, foreclosures, civil law-
suits and divorces,” Becker said.
“We literally touch every aspect
of someone’s life, from cradle to
grave.”
Becker said her first response
to the proposed cuts was, “Can
we do this?” She and the other
constitutional officers (sheriff,
district attorney, public defender
and others) met one year earlier
because they saw “rough weath-
er” ahead and to figure out ways
to streamline their departments.
The impact of these cuts
on the system could be disas-
trous, Becker said. It could
cause innocent people to remain
in county jails while others are
released inappropriately. It could
delay access to the courts for
domestic violence victims and
impede enforcement of child Superior Court Chief Judge Cynthia J. Becker. Photo by Nigel Roberts
support.
Becker said she recently re- with the ongoing budget process threat to sue the county for un- which she hopes doesn’t happen.
ceived notification from the U.S. which now invoices a realloca- derfunding the justice system. “I Becker stated that she wants
Department of Justice directing tion of funds. In the interim, don’t threaten to sue anybody,” to work “constructively” with
the courts to ensure that they Becker said county officials the chief judge emphasized. The county officials, who she said
have interpreters available. For want her to furlough court staff. court has “the ability to take ac- are trying to be “responsible
a diverse community such as “My response is, how could I tion” in the form of a court order stewards.” However, the court
DeKalb, that includes languages furlough my people when I don’t if the county fails to provide needs enough funding to func-
ranging from Bosnian to Viet- know what my 2010 budget is?” necessary funding. tion properly.
namese. “And that costs money,” she stated. “In the final budget, “Those are good people. In the end, Becker expects
she said. The county’s responsi- I may not have to furlough my They are trying to do the best things to work out. “I am a huge
bility is to “fund us appropriate- people.” Furloughs, she contin- they can with a horrible situa- optimist,” she stated. “I know
ly so that we could do what we ued, are tantamount to closing tion,” said Becker. She wants to it’s going to be tough for another
need to do,” Becker added. the courthouse. be sure she has “exhausted every year or two. But I also know that
She expressed frustration Much has been made of a effort” before taking action— DeKalb has amazing resilience.”
 A Section • Page 14A
Avondale Estates police investigate the stabbing death of Karen Jenkins. Photo by Robert Naddra
Murder rate on rise
after five-year low
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
Three killings over a
three-day span last weekend
mirror the county’s increase
in the number of homicides
this year.
There were only 63 mur-
ders in DeKalb last year and
the county already has sur-
passed that number in 2010.
Last year’s mark was the
lowest in the county in five
years compared with 102
murders in 2008.
DeKalb County and
Avondale Estates police
have made arrests in all
three incidents that began in
the early morning hours of
Oct. 1.
Two of the three homi-
cides were instances of do-
mestic violence, police said.
Ronald Jenkins, 64, has
been charged with murder
in the stabbing death of his
wife Karen Jenkins, also
64. Ronald Jenkins stabbed
his wife, then tried to kill
himself by slashing his
wrists, according to a state-
ment from Avondale Estates
police chief Gary Broden.
Ronald Jenkins is recov-
ering from his wounds at
Grady Memorial Hospital.
The GBI is assisting with the
investigation, Broden said.
Three people have been
arrested in connection with
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010
a shooting at a party at 1909 Parish said she does not
Whitehall Forest Court off anticipate that Spinks will
Bouldercrest Road on Oct. face charges.
1. Raynell Cornell was “I was told that the oth-
killed when several shots er children are with family
were fired. members and there are no
At least one of the three signs of abuse concerning
arrested will be charged with the other children at this
homicide, said DeKalb Po- point,” Parish said.
lice spokeswoman Mekka
Parish.
Parish said no charges
had been filed as of Oct. 5.
Other charges may be filed
and more arrests may be
made in connection with the
killing, Parish said.
The third incident hap-
pened on Oct. 2. Ellison
Matthews is in the DeKalb
County Jail after he was
arrested for the murder of
his girlfriend’s 2–year-old
daughter, Parish said. Elli-
son, 22, was babysitting the
child and her three siblings
at 2169 Brockett Road near
Tucker while the children’s
mother, Michelle Spinks,
was at a wedding. Ellison
is charged with murder and
first degree cruelty to chil-
dren.
Ellison called 911 to
report the child was uncon-
scious and the child was
taken to Grady Memorial
Hospital and later died.
“It was later determined
that the child suffered from
both physical and sexual
abuse,” Parish said.
www.ChampionNewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010 A Section • Page 15A

Federal grant funds

agency’s innovative
HIV testing methods
by Robert Naddra club, with the ability to do
robert@dekalbchamp.com rapid testing. Results are
complete in 20 minutes,
Imagine throwing a party Sperling said.
where the primary objective Rep. Hank Johnson, a
is to test the attendees for strong supporter of funding
HIV. for HIV prevention and
A Decatur-based awareness, recently stopped
company does just that, by the Stand office with a
with great success. Stand word of congratulations.
Inc. will now be able to Stand, with an office near
continue its HIV testing and Covington Highway,
AIDS counseling thanks to is in Johnson’s 4th
a $300,000 federal grant Congressional District.
from the U. S. Department “Stand can point to many
of Health and Human success stories, thanks to Rep. Hank Johnson, center, visited the Stand Inc. office after the agency was awarded a $300,000
federal grant for HIV testing and its HIV/AIDS awareness program. Photo provided
Services. the excellent work they are
The non-profit doing in our community,”
discontinued its free Johnson said. “This award
HIV testing services for is well deserved – Stand’s
about four months after it work is helping people live
failed to get a grant from healthier, happier and more
the Centers for Disease productive lives.”
Control, said Stand founder Stand also offers HIV
Charles Sperling. The new and AIDS counseling
grant from the Substance before and after testing. Office of School Improvement
Abuse Mental Health The agency also focuses Presents
Services Administration/ on violence and substance

Blazing New Trails

Center for Substance Abuse abuse intervention and
Prevention went into effect prevention services as well
Oct. 1. as comprehensive re-entry
Stand tested 4,000 services for men released
people last year in south
DeKalb County by using
from prison.
“We pride ourselves
Together We Will Make a Difference
the unique technique that on our ability to counsel,”
Sperling called “recruiting Sperling said. “Peer
opportunities that resemble counseling is very A free half-day Title I Annual Meeting
house parties.” There is important with all of these
approximately a 3 percent issues. It’s important Parental Involvement Conference
positivity rate, he said. that someone can have a Saturday, October 16, 2010
“This grant targets the conversation with someone
need to do testing among who is not going to judge 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
the MSM—men who have you. Our staff is immersed
sex with men—population,” in the HIV community, and Stone Mountain Middle School, 4301 Sarr Parkway, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Sperling said. “Our staffers some are HIV positive.
target one person who is They are not only able to Light refreshments will be served at 8:00 a.m.
willing to host the party, talk about HIV and AIDS
and we provide food and from a clinical point of
drinks, except alcohol.” view, but also on a personal Mr. Joseph B. Washington, author of “Breaking the Spirit of Average” will be the
The hope, Sperling level.” keynote speaker. He is a dynamic motivator with the gift of empowering people who
said, is that people in that Sperling said whether are addressing life’s daily challenges. Mr. Washington will also present two work-
environment will open up a person comes in for shops on parenting. In addition, a variety of other workshops will be offered to assist
to the idea of taking an HIV domestic violence, parents with the educational career of their children.
test. substance abuse or re-entry
“It’s a non-threatening counseling, they are offered New this year, there will be an expanded selection of workshops for parents of special
environment, with their the free HIV test as well. education students.
peer group,” Sperling said. “It’s a scary thought to
“It’s a place where that think in tough economic The workshops include: Mathematics and Reading for all grade levels, Special
group can get together and times like this, we would Education, and Early Childhood Workshops.
talk about the dangers of have to shut down,”
high-risk activities that Sperling said. “We have Special activities and guest speakers are planned for Middle and High School Stu-
cause HIV.” a great impact in south dents.
Part of Stand’s success DeKalb and our numbers
in reaching at-risk are certainly something to Language translators will be available for some workshops and childcare for school
individuals is the ability be highlighted. We want to age children will be provided. We will also have exhibits featuring the DeKalb County
to go into the community reduce the fear of getting School System, various community agencies, and educational companies.
instead of waiting for tested. AIDS and HIV is
residents to come into treated more like a chronic
an office, Sperling said. illness instead of a terminal
Door prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the conference!
The company has a van disease.”
that sets up in a park or a For more information, call Jackie Marshall at 678-676-0376.
 EDUCATION
Winnona Park Elementary
eliminates snacking at schools
Principal: Even
the kids don’t
really care
by Jonathan Cribbs
jonathan@dekalbchamp.
com
Gregory Wiseman said
it’s never been clear to him
when in-class snacking
became common in elemen-
tary schools. Students didn’t
snack when he was an el-
ementary school student in
the early 1970s, he said.
But at some point, sys-
temized snacking became
the norm in elementary
schools. When Wiseman ar-
rived as principal of Winno-
na Park Elementary School
five years ago, in-school
snacking was an institution.
Parents were put on a sched-
ule to provide daily snacks
for the class, and children
snacked.
“I don’t remember when
that happened,” Wiseman
said. “But I really didn’t
think it was necessary.”
Eventually, Wiseman
noticed that many students
didn’t finish their lunches,
and significant portions of
it would be thrown away.
Parents often would miss
their turn to provide snacks
and two or three parents
would be unfairly relied
upon to provide snacks for
the whole class. A lot of
students weren’t eating the
snacks either, which also
were wasted.
So, Wiseman decided to
eliminate snacking this year
on a trial basis, effective the
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010 • PAGE 16A
first day of school. Then he
waited.
There were a few ob-
jectors, and Wiseman said
he makes exceptions for
students with health issues
such as diabetes. But the
trial has continued since the
first day of school – and no
one really seems to care, he
said.
“It was like no big deal
to (students),” Wiseman
said. “There was no, like,
mini-revolt from kids.”
Parents also seemed
uniformly pleased with the
change, he said.
“I am so glad you did
this,” a parent wrote to
Wiseman in an e-mail. “I
think it’s really important
for kids to be hungry at
meal times.”
The change actually
got students to finish their
things are simpler for par-
meals, other parents said.
“Our daughter has been ents.
eating her entire lunch the
past couple of days, so I’m
“Now it’s just a non-
issue,” he said.
not throwing away so much
food,” another parent wrote.
“Also, I’m happy she won’t
be consuming the extra
sugar (from granola bars)
on a daily basis. She hasn’t
complained at all.”
Now, as Wiseman sees
it, less food is wasted and
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www.ChampionNewspaper.com
AROUND
AVONDALE ESTATES DECATUR
Museum School hosts first Exhibit
Night
The Museum School of Avondale
Estates hosts its first Exhibit Night,
Oct. 7, 6 to 8 p.m. Students become
teachers for the night and create their
own interactive museum, showcasing
their completed projects and lessons
learned during the first nine weeks of
school. Parents, school partners and
community members are welcome. The
school is at 3191 Covington Highway in
Avondale Estates.
Residents encouraged to recycle
electronics
An electronics recycling drive will
be held Saturday, Oct. 9, from 8 a.m.
to 2 p.m. at the Peach State Federal
Credit Union at 52 North Avondale
Road. Residents are encouraged to
drop off old computers and computer
equipment, including wires and
cables, modems, laptops and servers.
Also accepted are television sets,
cell phones, video games and game
systems and other items. For more
information, contact Juliette Sims-
Owens at (404) 294-5400.
CLARKSTON
Clarkston International Festival
The city of Clarkston will be having
its third annual International Festival
on Saturday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
in the downtown Clarkston Plaza,
located at the intersection of North
Indian Creek and Market Street.
This free event is open to everyone.
There will be a variety of cultural food,
music, live entertainment and dancing
representing Clarkston’s Asian, Native
Hawaiian Pacific Islander, Hispanic,
and African American cultures.
There will be games for adults, a
kid’s corner and much more. To be a
vendor, sponsor or volunteer, contact
India Pullin of Step Up In Georgia
Inc. at (404) 343-1452 or visit www.
StepupinGeorgia.org and click on
“International Festival Icon”
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010
DEKALB
Community to remember domestic
violence victims
Hundreds of metro residents are
expected to gather in downtown Decatur
to join Women’s Resource Center to End
Domestic Violence for its 19th annual
Candlelight Vigil. The vigil will be held
on Thursday, Oct. 21, 7 to 8 p.m. at the
gazebo in downtown Decatur, located
behind the Decatur MARTA Station.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness
Month.
The vigil is designed to confront widely
held beliefs about domestic violence
through a program that includes audience
participation as well as speakers and
musical performances. It will end with a
candle-lighting ceremony remembering
every Georgian whose life was taken by
domestic violence in the past 12 months.
Oak Grove UMC fundraiser set
The 49th annual Oak Grove United
Methodist men’s barbecue fundraiser
will be held Saturday, Oct. 16, 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m. There also will be a bake
sale, arts and crafts, live bluegrass and
gospel music and a book sale. Plates
are available for take out and eat-in.
Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for
children. Proceeds benefit 26 different
church and community causes. The
church is at 1722 Oak Grove Road in
Decatur, between LaVista and Briarcliff
roads. For more information, call (404)
636-7558 or visit www.ogumc.org.
DORAVILLE
Road race and walk coming
Doraville’s annual 5K road race and
walk will be held Saturday, Oct. 16. The
race begins at 8 a.m. at the Doraville
MARTA station and ends at city hall on
Park Avenue. Registration fees for the
5K and 1K are $15 in advance and $20
the day of the race. The “Tot Trot” entry
fee is $5.
Parking is available at the Doraville
MARTA Station, Doraville Baptist
Church and the Doraville Civic Center.
T-shirts will be awarded to all finishers
and ribbons will be given to Tot Trot
participants.
To register online, visit www.active.
com
A Section • Page 17A
DUNWOODY
Hotel event to benefit breast cancer
survivors
W Atlanta – Perimeter, along with oth-
er area W hotels, will be awash in pink
lighting in recognition of the ThinksPINK
campaign to benefit Young Survival Co-
alition (YSC) of Atlanta, an organization
of young breast cancer survivors. W
Atlanta – Perimeter, will host a special
screening of the movie Pretty In Pink on
Oct. 12 on the Savu patio. Guests will
munch on complimentary pink popcorn
balls as they take in this 1980s classic
film. Special menu and drink offerings
will be available with a portion of the sale
benefiting YSC.
LITHONIA
Family reunion workshops offered
DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bu-
reau is again hosting its free Family
Reunion Planning Workshops in 2010.
The workshops offer tips that can help
simplify the planning and make family
reunions more entertaining. Workshops
can be attended by anyone interested.
All reunion workshops are held on
Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon unless
otherwise noted. The next scheduled
workshop is planned for Oct. 9 at Hilton
Garden Inn Stonecrest, 7890 Mall Ring
Road in Lithonia.
Reunion Workshops are free but
pre-registration is required. To register
call (770) 492-5000 or visit www.dcvb.
org
STONE MOUNTAIN
Granite sculpture to be dedicated
A ribbon cutting will be held to
dedicate the Village of Stone Mountain’s
first piece of public art on Oct. 8 at 3
p.m. on Main Street. The sculpture,
“Granite Wonders” by Decatur artist
John Thigpen, was commissioned by
Main Street Stone Mountain Inc., as part
of the area’s streetscape project that
will be completed in October. This also
will serve as the grand opening of the
six artists’ studios that are part of SMart
Inc., an Arts Incubator Microenterprise
project. All events are free and open to
the public.
 Classifieds
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 SPORTS
Stephenson’s defense more than a family affair
by Matt Amato
On NFL draft day this
year, Perry Riley anxiously
awaited news. It was stress-
ful. For once, the LSU
standout’s future was out
of his hands, entrusted to
an agent averse in the high-
stakes negotiation of a pres-
sure cooker atmosphere.
Riley needed solitude–
comfortable, familiar sur-
roundings reminding him of
control. At Stephenson High
School, the gym, where
he spent the life-changing
day, was that place. Like
other former outstanding
‘We put a lot
of emphasis
on defense
and go by
the saying
that you can’t
win without
playing
defense.’
– Ron Gartrell
teammates, Riley enjoyed
seeing the Jaguars continue
a tradition of fast, power-
ful defense and helped out
whenever he could.
At the same time, Jer-
maine Cunningham, Ri-
ley’s varsity teammate at
Stephenson, had the same
knots in his stomach. Even-
tually the Redskins came in
for Riley and Cunningham
went to New England.
Two high school team-
mates drafted in the NFL
– the odds of it are incred-
ible. However, the program
known for developing
outstanding defensive tal-
ent could add another two
alumni to its ranks.
College seniors Mar-
cus Ball, once one of the
nation’s most coveted line-
backers, and Kelvin Shep-
pard, another LSU product,
are well on the way to pro-
fessional success believes
the man who first oversaw
their raw, talent.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010 • PAGE 19A
“They fall along the
same path,” said longstand-
ing Stephenson coach Ron
Gartrell. “They’ll be draft-
ed.”
Gartrell, however,
doesn’t have the demeanor
of a man with nostalgic
longing–and for good rea-
son. Sheppard’s brother,
Jeremy, and Ball’s cousin, Marcus Ball Jermaine Cunningham Patrick Riley Kelvin Sheppard
Reggis, are among the pro-
gram’s current torch bear-
ers putting up head-turning State before transferring gram, they get an idea of to recognize, hone and
numbers. to Memphis. Their cousin, the expectations [of our encourage this talent to
Along with leading Reggis, is also expected to program],” said Gartrell. a higher level. “A lot of
tackler Jordan Mincy, follow the Division I path. “They all come from foot- those guys from Division
Stephenson has one of the Both Reggis Ball and ball families, and that’s I and the NFL started out
most feared defenses in the Mincy have scholarship of- something unique. They all with us appointing them a
state. Through the first four fers from Memphis. have the natural aggression position,” he said. “You re-
games Mincy and Ball were “When you see them and instincts for football.” ally like to see them come
tied for the team lead with hanging around the pro- It’s been Gartrell’s job through.”
36 total tackles.
Stephenson (5-0) is
coming off its second
straight shutout of the sea-
son, a 21-0 win against Lu-
ella on Oct. 1.
“This crop is no differ-
ent than the rest,” said Gar-
trell. “We’ve always kept
good linebackers.”
The coach cites several
reasons for the seamless
continuation of defensive
standouts through the years.
“Other programs have
more sophisticated passing
games,” he said, comparing
the Stephenson approach to
others. “We’re a traditional
come-at-you type team. We
put a lot of emphasis on de-
F a
c ts
fense and go by the saying
that you can’t win without
Know The
playing defense.”
His players also main-
tain a strong work ethic.
“I think we execute
[better than other teams] be-
cause we do a lot to prepare
for the game,” said Mincy,
expected to sign with an
NCAA Division I program
this year. “By the time the
Know who&what you are
voting for.
game comes we’re ready.”
Mincy is constantly
reminded of Stephenson’s
reputation, particularly Plan to attend these upcoming candidate forums.
when former players like
Riley and Cunningham
visit.
DeKalb Co. School Board
October 7, 7-9 p.m.
“A lot of [former play- DeKalb Medical Center Auditorium
ers] come back, help out,
and that’s a real good Decatur
thing,” he said.
Setting high expecta- 4th Congressional District
tions through example is, October 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
said Gartrell, an important DeKalb History Center
x-factor in the program’s Decatur
culture of success, espe-
cially for the wave of family DeKalb Co. Superior Court Judge
members. October 21, 7:15-8:30 p.m.
Reggie Ball was a start- Tull Auditorium
ing quarterback for Georgia Emory University School of Law
Tech and younger brother
Marcus went to Florida
A Section • Page 20A THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2010
Avondale 14, Clarkston 6: The woody, 18:30.57; 3. Brendon Sexton,
Blue Devils (2-4, 1-0 Region 6-AA) Dunwoody, 19:34.51; 4. Jordan Fish-
scored the game-winning touchdown burne, Arabia Mountain, 19:40.49; 5.
D eKal b H i g h S c ho o l S p o r t s H i gh l i gh t s in the third quarter to break a 6-6 Amadou Bah, McNair, 19:46.26.
tie. Blue Devils coach Byron Mc-
Call called the win the best team Girls: Team standings: 1. Dunwoody
2, 1-1 Region 5-AAA) the victory. effort of the season and credited the 25, 2. Cedar Grove 82, 3. Redan 124.
FOOTBALL McQueen threw three touchdown offensive line for a good job. Top five individuals: 1. Becky Lynn,
passes and ran for another score. Dunwoody, 21:38.26; 2. Danielle
Redding caught two touchdown CROSS COUNTRY Jones, Dunwoody, 22:58.66; 3. Chris-
Valdosta 43, M.L. King 28: Quar- passes. Junior running back Kenno
terback Jonquel Dawson passed for tian Pryor, Cedar Grove, 23:36.34; 4.
Loyal rushed for 178 yards on 27 Kayla Pryor, Cedar Grove, 23:47.45;
445 yards with three touchdowns carries, giving him 959 yards for
and an interception for the Lions DeKalb County Race 1, Sept. 28 5. Kailey Williams, Dunwoody,
the season. The Eagles are one win Boys: Team standings: 1. Southwest 24:06.56.
(3-2). Dawson has 18 touchdown away from matching their highest
passes against four interceptions this DeKalb 27, 2. Druid Hills 71, 3.
win total in a season since 2005. Chamblee 85. Spalding Jag Invitational No. 2,
season. Demarco Robinson caught
his 12th touchdown pass of the sea- Top five individuals: 1. Jared Wil- Griffin
Cedar Grove 40, Towers 16: Jona- liams, Southwest DeKalb, 17:45.45; Boys: Leonel Ayala of Cross Keys
son and returned the opening kickoff than McCrary accounted for three
93 yards for a touchdown. Kevin 2. Abel Abay, Stone Mountain, won the race with a time of 16:52
touchdowns for the Saints (3-3, 2-1 18:04.17; 3. Ray Lamb, Druid Hills, to lead the Indians to the team title.
Byard and Blake Tibbs also caught Region 5-AAA). McCrary complet-
touchdown passes for the Lions. 18:07.27; 4. Malik Wheeler, South- Two other Cross Keys runners placed
ed 12 of 18 passes for 179 yards and west DeKalb, 18:15.03; 5. Malcolm in the top 10—Javier Garcia was
two touchdowns, and rushed for 47 Wright, Southwest DeKalb, 18:27.46. third (17:46) and Christian Mon-
Stephenson 21, Luella 0: The Jag- yards and another score. Desi Banks
uars (5-0, 2-0 Region 2-AAAAA) talvo (18:12) was sixth overall. Cross
rushed for two touchdowns and Trey Girls: Team standings: 1. Druid Keys, which had five runners in the
piled up more than 300 yards rush- Mosley ran for one. Rashad Ponder
ing while earning their second Hills 29, 2. Southwest DeKalb 46, top 20, scored 45 points to 106 for
led the rushing attack with 88 yards 3. Chamblee 88. Top five individu- second-place LaGrange.
straight shutout. Willie Davis rushed on five carries. Antonio Stewart,
for 204 yards and two touchdowns als: 1. Greciana Cooper, Southwest
O’Neill Cohen and Tyrus White DeKalb, 20:13.06; 2. Charlotte Wil- VOLLEYBALL
on 17 carries while Michael Davis were standouts on defense.
added 114 yards and a touchdown liams, Southwest DeKalb, 23:04.44;
on 12 carries. Defensively, Jordan 3. Kelsey Sullivan, Druid Hills,
Buford 42, Decatur 7: The Bull- 23:22.42; 4. Mercedes Perez, South- County teams began area tournaments
Mincy led with 15 tackles while dogs (4-2, 0-1 Region 6-AA) had a
Jarontay Jones added nine tackles, west DeKalb, 23:50.53; 5. Melissa this week with state playoff berths on
two-game winning streak snapped Florkowski, Druid Hills 24:32.66. the line. In 5-AAA, St. Pius (27-17,
a sack and a fumble recovery. but are still off to their best start 7-0) is the top seed and Druid Hills
since 2005. Quindarius Hall scored DeKalb County Race 2, Sept. 28 (19-10. 5-2) finished third in the regu-
Columbia 25, Stone Mountain 21: on a 6-yard run in the final two min-
Keithon Redding scored on a 20- Boys: Team standings: 1. Dunwoody lar season. In AAAA, Lakeside (23-6,
utes of the game to prevent the shut- 37, 2. Arabia Mountain 101, 3. 7-0) is the top seed in 6-AAAA South
yard pass from quarterback Derrick out by the No. 3 team in Class AA.
McQueen with less than two min- Columbia 149. Top five individu- and Dunwoody (20-9, 6-1) placed
Hall’s run capped a 95-yard drive. als: 1. Darius Dellaquila, Lithonia, second. Marist is the No. 2 seed from
utes remaining to give the Eagles (4-
18:29.48; 2. Brandon Morales, Dun- 6-AAAA North.

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