the DeKalb FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 • VOL.
24, NO 29 • FREE
Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest and Tucker • A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS
Stone Mountain
celebrates new
welcome center BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Stone Mountain officials and other elected officials cut a ribbon to celebrate the opening of the new
The new Stone Mountain
welcome center. Photos by Carla Parker Welcome Center is now open in the
city’s historic train depot.
Stone Mountain officials held
a ribbon cutting ceremony Aug.
26 to celebrate the opening of the
new welcome center and Stone
Mountain Downtown Development
Authority (DDA) office in the
renovated train depot. The opening
of the new welcome center signified
the completion of Phase II of the
$1.6 million train depot renovation
project.
Stone Mountain received
$149,000 from the 2016 DeKalb
County Community Development
Stone Mountain Welcome Center is now open in the Train Depot. Block Grant (CDBG) to complete
specific projects in the depot. Phase
II of the project included renovating
the old courthouse and city council
meeting space and turning it into
a space for the welcome center.
Two rooms in the train depot were
also renovated into office space
for the DDA and the city’s tourism
manager Kimberly Cumbie.
Exterior renovations on the
depot were completed in 2015.
The city received a $352,150
Transportation Enhancement Grant
The welcome center also features historic facts about the city. from the Georgia Department of
Transportation to fix the exterior
of the old police station section of
the train depot and correct drainage
issues.
City Manager ChaQuias
Thornton said this project has
been near and dear to the hearts
of everyone in Stone Mountain,
especially Cumbie.
“[Cumbie] has worked tirelessly
trying to get this space up and
going and open for our citizens
The lobby of the welcome center features brochures of attractions in the city.
Visit www.TheChampionNewspaper.com for local, real DeKalb County news.
and stakeholders,” Thornton said.
“Now, we’re moving forward trying
to get things together for the third
phase, which is going to incorporate
an event space and senior center.”
Cumbie called the building a
labor of love.
“We want this building to
be one of hospitality for visitors
that come to this area, not only
for visitors but for local people,”
Cumbie said. “That’s why we’re
calling it the welcome center. It’s
not just a visitor’s center. It’s a
place where people can come and
feel welcomed.”
Cumbie said extra funds raised
from previous Color Run 5K events
in the city helped pay for the HVAC
system and Dolly Parton Theater,
which filmed in the train deport,
allowed the city to keep blinds that
were used during filming. “That’s
$5,000 [worth] of blinds,” Cumbie
said. “What a gift.”
Future projects in the train
depot include renovating the
1914 women’s restroom into an
accessible restroom that will meet
requirements of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA); and
constructing a raised timber railroad
platform along two sides of the
southern section that will expand
useable space of the building and
will allow ADA access.
The south side of the train depot
was built in 1857 after the Georgia
Railroad Company completed the
line from Madison to Atlanta. The
north side was built in 1914 as a
passenger office and waiting room.
In the early 1960s, the train depot
served as the city hall and city jail.
It remained in use until 2012 when
the new municipal building was
completed.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019 • Page 2
STONECREST
Yusef Salaam holds a newspaper ad paid for by Donald Trump. Senior Pastor Emory Berry, Jr. prays with students and guest speaker Yusef Salaam at Greenforest Early
Learning Center Aug. 26.
Students and facility at Greenforest pose for a photo with guest speaker Yusef Salaam (center). Photos by Horace Holloman
Students receive lessons on life, faith BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
Horace@dekalbchamp.com
Yusef Salaam said he has
every right to be angry after what
happened to him. As a teenager,
Salaam served six years and eight
months in prison for the rape of a
28-year-old female jogger in New
York City’s Central Park in 1989.
Salaam, along with four other
teens who became known as the
Central Park Five, were exonerated
in December 2012.
On Aug. 26 at Greenforest
Early Learning Center in Decatur,
Students listen to guest speaker Yusef Salaam at Greenforest Early Learning Center Aug. 26.
Salaam spoke to a group of
approximately 50 teens about using
anger for good.
“It’s all about paying it
forward. At the end of the day, we
had to think about what to do with
that pain, hurt and the reality of
what we went through. We said we
had to pour into the future and pour
into the * future minds that would
one day be judges, doctors and
lawyers,” Salaam said. 
Salaam spoke to students about
how his trust in God strengthened
his faith while he was in jail.
Salaam also said it’s important for
young people to understand their
SEE LESSONS ON PAGE 7
LOCAL
LITHONIA
DeKalb County will construct a new building for the East DeKalb Community and Senior Center at Bruce Street. Photo by Carla
Parker
New senior center
coming to Lithonia
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The East DeKalb
Community and Senior
Center on Bruce Street in
Lithonia will have a new
building in 2021.
DeKalb County
approved funding to
build a new facility to
replace the current senior
center building at 2449
Bruce Street. The new
16,000-square-foot facility
will feature a multipurpose
room and dining hall with
stage, classrooms, an
aerobics studio and a game
room.
DeKalb County
officials said the project is
being funded jointly with
DeKalb County general
funds and community
development through the
Community Development
Block Grant Funds from
Housing and Urban
Development Department
(HUD). The total project
cost, including design and
engineering, construction,
site furnishings and fixtures,
is approximately $6 million.
Lithonia Mayor
Deborah Jackson said the
county looked for space to
build the new senior center
and considered renovating
the existing structure.
“But [county officials]
thought that would cost
more than what it was
really worth, and it would
be better to build a new
facility,” Jackson said. “I
was interested in keeping
the facility in the city, so
we were able to sell them
the land that it’s going to
be built on and that’s where
it contains the ruse of the
old Bruce Street School,
which was the first public
school for Black children in
DeKalb County.”
Jackson said the county
won’t demolish the historic
Bruce Street building
and there are separate
discussions on what can be
done to restore the building.
CITY OF TUCKER
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Tucker will hold a Second Read and
Public Hearing on September 9th at 7:00 pm during
a regular scheduled meeting. The hearing and
meeting will be held at the City Hall Annex located
at 4228 First Avenue Ste 2-4, Tucker GA 30084.
The purpose of this hearing is for the City Council to
consider budget amendments for Fiscal Year 2019
for the Operating and Capital Budgets.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019 • Page 3
“Unfortunately, right
now [the building] is
overgrown, so it needs to be
cleaned out and made into
a useable space,” Jackson
said. “We have to have some
discussions with the state’s
preservation organization as
to what some options might
be.”
The site for the
new senior center is
approximately 4.5 acres
and will include about 100
parking spaces. County
officials said commissioner
Mereda Davis Johnson
is leading the project and
construction is anticipated
to be completed in the first
quarter of 2021.
Jackson said she is
hoping they will be able to
break ground for the project
before the end of the year.
DUNWOODY
The men taking equipment from State Farm construction site captured by surveillance
cameras. Photo provided by Dunwoody Police Department.
Suspects wanted for
stealing $65,000 of
construction materials
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
An assortment of tools were
stolen as well.
According to the police
report, the burglary is listed
Dunwoody police are
searching for individuals who as a “no forced entry” and the
allegedly stole products valued suspects wore gloves.
at $65,000 from the State According to the police
Farm construction site Aug. report, the burglary was
12. noticed when employees
In a video posted to came in for work and
noticed padlocks cut off the
Dunwoody police’s Twitter
company’s rolling carts and
page, three men can be seen
a door that had been kicked
rolling a cart out of the 247
in. The burglary was reported
Perimeter Center Parkway
around 10 a.m.
location just after midnight.
Any information about the
The suspects allegedly
State Farm construction site
took 30 Arecont security
burglary should be reported
cameras that are valued at
to Detective Tim Waldron
$2,000 each, according to
at (678)382-6911 or tim.
Dunwoody police officials.
waldron@dunwoodyga.gov.
Teacher charged with mall molestation
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
The Dunwoody Police
Department has identified and
charged Devin Johnson with the
alleged molestation of a teen at
Perimeter Mall Aug. 4.
A 13-year-old boy said he was
Devin Johnson a DCSD teacher has
approached Aug. 4 at a Perimeter been charged with molestation.
Mall bathroom by a man who asked
him questions while in the bathroom.
The adult then went into a bathroom stall with the boy and closed
and locked the stall. While they were in the bathroom stall, the
suspect asked the victim to expose himself and reached for the
victim’s pants, according to the Dunwoody Police Department.
The victim left the bathroom and notified his father, who
chased but did not catch the suspect.
The 28-year-old suspect was charged with child molestation,
enticing a child and obstruction of officers Aug. 20. Johnson─a
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) teacher─is in custody.
Johnson has been terminated from his Tucker Middle School
teaching position, according to DCSD officials.
OPINION
Growing older, quieter and hopefully wiser
I’ve just turned 62 years old,
which to me is somewhat of a
milestone birthday. Many of us
who grew up during the '60s and
'70s never expected to live to
be this age. In high school, we
had the dreaded mandatory draft
registration, which some of us
conveniently failed to complete. We
lived through eras when drug use
and sexual promiscuity were the
norms for many; a time when older
generations looked down on us as
being wilder and weaker and had
little confidence in our abilities to
contribute to the overall betterment
of society and to the world at large.
Our generation did a lot of
experimentation that shocked many
who were not in our age group, and
we were ridiculed for it on a regular
basis. Our generation was among
the first to regularly experiment
with substances such as marijuana.
Underage drinking was part of our
Foreclosures
Tax Sales/Ads for Bids
Trade Name Registrations
Public Notices/Public meetings
Sheriff Sales/Local Legislation
Notices of Incorporation
To subscribe, visit DeKalbLegalNotices.com
or call 404-373-7779, X 0
#ItsInTheChampion
JOHN HEWITT
johnh@dekalbchamp.com
lifestyle; fake IDs were easily made,
and just as easily ignored when we
attempted to enter a bar or order a
drink. Teenage boys were letting
their hair grow to lengths that had
not been seen on men since the
powdered wigs of the 18th century.
Bellbottoms and platform shoes
were just the beginning of trends
our generation started but have
come and gone several times since.
We were among the first to hear
new music genres such as punk,
metal, funk and rap. Groups such as
the B-52s and REM, who are now
considered by many as being music
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 • Page 4
royalty, were just beginning to have
a following. The Beastie Boys,
Heathen Girls, Ramones, The Clash
and Dead Kennedys were headliners
at local venues such as the famous-
to-some 688 Club on Atlanta’s
Spring Street. Debbie Harry, AKA
Blondie, released “Rapture,” which
would become the first rap song to
ever hit number one on American
music charts.
We did not expect the world to
be fair. We knew we had to set our
own courses, and we did not rely on
others to make positive changes that
we felt were important. We wrote
letters to authority figures, held sit-
ins and protests similar to those by
the previous generation who were
fighting for civil rights.
Ideals of societal norms also
have changed through the years.
What we once believed to be a great
cause may now be little more than
a fleeting thought or hinderance.
Our perspectives change a great
deal throughout life based on our
collective experiences and our ever-
evolving sense of what is right and
what is wrong.
Though some of us may not
be as vocal about expressing our
concerns as others, many of us in
our later years begin to listen more
and apply a lifetime of perspectives
to our opinions. We may be guilty
of passing judgment on younger,
less experienced ones who complain
often and loudly about their
perceived social ills.
Just as generations prior to ours
did, we may complain about the
younger generations today, but I’m
convinced that those in the current
generation will prove us wrong just
as our generation did to those who
doubted us.
OPINION
How we can still create affordable housing
Around this world, humans
increasingly congregate and live
in our major urban centers and
suburbs. One of the many positive
aspects of this lengthy economic
growth period of the past decade
has been the recovery of the
real estate market and housing
prices. The financial markets’
collapse of 2008 left millions of
Americans underwater with their
mortgages and greatly de-valued
homes prices. But with many
regions of the nation, including
metro Atlanta, experiencing double
digit price increases each year, an
increasingly broader segment of the
population is getting priced out of
both home ownership and rentals.  of less than $1,000 per month
Though Atlanta was home to
the first public housing project in
America—Techwood Homes—
dedicated by then-President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt in
1935; that model of warehousing
the poor in high and mid-rise
inner-city communities is on the
wane. And yet 85 years after the
construction of Techwood Homes,
which was demolished prior to
the Centennial Olympic Games in
1996, we still struggle as a nation
to both define affordable housing
as well as determine who might be
entitled to it.
 Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance
Bottoms has set an ambitious goal
of $1 billion in new affordable
housing stock during her time
in office. The current average
apartment rent within city limits is
$1,800 per month. Starter homes in
the city have a typical price point of
$250,000.    Tiny houses—Most city
But home builders, real estate
developers and property owners
also cannot be expected to endlessly
supply housing, apartments or
even S.R.O. hotel rooms for less
than their costs of maintenance or
bringing product to market. For
example, expecting that Atlanta’s
trendy and popular Beltline could
provide a wealth of affordable
housing options for longtime
FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
Let Us Know What You Think!
THE DEKALB FREE PRESS encourages opinions from
its readers. Please write to us and express your views.
Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain the
writer’s name, address and telephone number for verifi-
cation. All letters will be considered for publication.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily reflect the opinions
of the editor or publishers. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. The
Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • AUGUST 30, 2019 • Page 5
Shipping container homes— Finding a more permanent
‘One Man’s Atlanta, a rail hub, is home to
hundreds, if not thousands, of
solution, as Mayor Bottoms
referenced, will likely require
Opinion’ now obsolete or no longer in use a broader, more bottom up
shipping containers which ride response including a wide array of
Bill Crane rail cars or are on a trailer behind stakeholders, including business,
bill.csicrane@gmail.com an 18-wheeler. Old shipping real estate owners/developers,
containers can be purchased online non-profits and NGOs as well as
and brought to a homesite for less churches and community-based
area residents was a fantasy at
than $2,000-3,000. They are hardy, enterprises. As the more desired
best. Residents new to Georgia’s
weather resistant and rather simple housing models shift, we will need
capital city and longtime Atlantans
to assemble or stack into a variety to be flexible and willing to build,
are flocking to be Beltline adjacent,
of affordable housing options. renovate and rebuild, while also
owning and renting, at prices
Co-housing—Another option requiring owners and tenants to
which at best can be described as
gaining favor among millennials, become a part of their own solution.
surpassing longtime market high
particularly in older, industrial We can hardly afford not to.
prices in Buckhead.
neighborhoods of major urban
Atlanta can make it more
centers, is co-housing. For rents Bill Crane also serves as a
difficult and expensive for
political analyst and commentator
developers to acquire and build
(typically including all utilities), for Channel 2’s Action News, WSB-
along the Beltline, but it’s also
tenants rent a room with shared AM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5
those new developments, and the
access to bath, kitchen and social FM, as well as a columnist for The
later property taxes they’ll generate,
spaces. More like a college Champion, DeKalb Free Press and
which provide the bulk of funding
dormitory, or a roommate plan with Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb
for the construction of the Beltline
amenities, co-housing reduces the native and business owner, living
itself.  Here are some options, all
construction of the more expensive in Scottdale. You can reach him
heavily reliant on the private sector,
parts of real estate construction or comment on a column at bill.
which are affordable and are already
(plumbing, heavy appliances) and csicrane@gmail.com. 
working elsewhere.
splits those costs among multiple
Habitat for Humanity—
renters.
Founded in Americus, Ga. in 1976,
Habitat for Humanity is now global
in scope and has helped more
than $13.2 million people achieve
the stability and self-reliance of
home ownership. Habitat owners
are required to be employed, pay
an affordable mortgage, graduate
from a home ownership course and
contribute sweat equity—including
participation in the construction of
their home. Habitat for Humanity
homes are typically built with
donated materials and labor.
building codes do not allow the
construction or permanent siting
of tiny houses (typically 250-900
square feet), for purposes other
than use as a guest cottage or out-
building. A handful of Georgia
cities including Clarkston, East
Point and Fayetteville have adjusted
their building codes and have tiny
home communities currently under
construction.
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
John Hewitt Carla Parker STATEMENT FROM THE
Horace Holloman PUBLISHER
Chief Financial Officer: Taylor Robins We sincerely appreciate the
Dr. Earl D. Glenn discussion surrounding this and any
Social Media Manager: issue of interest to DeKalb County.
SEND LETTERS TO EDITOR, Production Manager: Donna Seay The Champion was founded in 1991
expressly to provide a forum for
The DeKalb Free Press, Kemesha Wadley discourse for all community residents
P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; on all sides of an issue. We have no
Send email to Johnh@dekalbchamp.com desire to make the news only to
FAX To: (404) 370-3903; Phone: (404) 373-7779. The DeKalb Free Press is published each Friday report news and opinions to effect
Deadline for news releases and advertising: by ACE III Communications, Inc., a more educated citizenry that will
Thursday, one week prior to publication date. 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030 ultimately move our community
forward. We are happy to present
Phone (404) 373-7779. ideas for discussion; however,
www.championnewspaper.com we make every effort to avoid
printing information submitted to
us that is known to be false and/or
DISPLAY ADVERTISING (404) 373-7779 x 110 assumptions penned as fact.
LOCAL
Legendary Redan baseball coach dies
by Mark Brock
Former Redan High School
state championship coach Marvin
Pruitt, 66, passed away Aug. 24
after battling several medical ail-
ments.
Pruitt was the winningest
DeKalb County baseball coach in
history at 447-252-3 with stops at
Lakeside, Stephenson, Southwest
DeKalb and Redan. He fought his
ailments like he expected his play-
ers to and in his usual quiet way
with that big smile most people
remembered after meeting him. A
coaching-stint at Rockdale County
in the late 1980s brought his career
record to 510-333-6.
He coached Redan to 13 playoff
appearances in 14 seasons, includ-
ing the 2013 Class AAAA state
championship in which he had to sit
out a portion of the season due to
his health. He also coached Redan
to Final Four appearances in 2003
and 2010.
Pruitt joined the Lakeside
baseball staff in 1978 as an assistant
junior varsity coach and coached
under Mike Trapani from 1980-
1982 before taking over as head
coach in 1983.
“One of the things I remember
most about coach Pruitt was that he
was the kindest gentleman in the
coaching profession I ever met,”
said Trapani. “He was the most
positive coach and inspired the kids.
He was always wanting to learn
how to be a better coach and how to
work with the kids. He was just the
kind of person you wanted your son
to play for—expecting hard work
and discipline. He was also a great
teacher in the classroom.”
Pruitt’s first head coaching job
was in 1983 with Lakeside. His
1983 team won the region title,
SUBSCRIBE TO
THE CHAMPION NEWSPAPER
404.373.7779 EXT. 100
Marvin Pruitt
advanced to the state playoffs and
reached the state semifinals. It was
Lakeside’s first state playoff appear-
ance and only Final Four trip.
Former Avondale and Lakeside
baseball coach Bill Newsome was
part of Pruitt’s 1983 team and re-
members his mentor fondly.
“Coach was an ambassador for
DeKalb baseball. Even though he
was a quiet person, everyone lis-
tened when he talked and respected
what he had to say,” said New-
some. “I remember that first playoff
[series] win against North Cobb
so well. We lost the first game and
coach Pruitt got us back to Lakeside
and made us take batting practice in
the dark. We run-ruled North Cobb
in the second game and then won
3-2 in the third game by throwing
out the tying run at the plate in the
bottom of the last inning.
“I can remember [Pruitt] sit-
ting in our living room talking. He
was so soft spoken and always a
gentleman and classy,” continued
Newsome. “I learned a lot from him
as a player and as a coach playing
against him on what to do and [how
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 • Page 6
to] handle people. But, don’t ever
think he wasn’t a competitor despite
his quietness. He wanted to win and
was not happy when things went
badly for his team.”
DeKalb County Schools Athlet-
ics Specialist and Baseball Coordi-
nator Chris Chilton played for and
worked with Pruitt for more than 37
years since he was an eighth-grade
junior varsity player at Lakeside.
“The thing I remember most
about coach Pruitt was his smile,”
said Chilton. “I remember the first
time I saw him; I was walking up
the stairs in school and he was com-
ing down with that big ole smile on
his face. He coached me in junior
varsity for two years and three years
afterward. There were very few
people who could ever say much
bad about coach Pruitt and I can’t
say that for most people.”
Former Columbia head baseball
coach Steve Dennis, who retired
with more than 300 career wins,
played against Pruitt’s first Lakeside
club as a player at Briarcliff High
School.
“Coach Pruitt was my men-
tor and I enjoyed getting to coach
against him over the years,” said
Dennis. “He always found a way
to take advantage of my youth in
coaching to get the upper hand. He
was a competitor and always got the
best out of his players, no matter
where he was coaching.”
Dennis said Pruitt will leave a
big hole in the coaching community.
“He is going to be very much
missed by those in the coaching
community with his knowledge and
teaching of the game of baseball,”
said Dennis. “He is someone the
younger generation may never have
known, but if they can live up to
his legacy they will have done very
well.”
Pruitt took over the Redan base-
ball program in 2001 from Greg
Goodwin, who would later become
his principal at Redan.
“I could talk about Marvin
forever,” said Goodwin. “He was a
legendary coach, but an even bet-
ter man. Everyone you talk to about
him always said what a great person
he was.”
Goodwin was a baseball foe
and friend for more than 30 years
and along with Pruitt, Dennis, Dion
Williams and Ron Elgin started
the DeKalb Dugout Club, which
honors DeKalb players and coaches
for their accomplishments each
season. Goodwin was around for
many of Pruitt’s milestones, such
as his 500th career win, the state
championship and being named to
the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of
Fame, of which Goodwin is also a
member.
“Funny thing is, one of the
things he was proudest of was
breaking my win record and taking
my title at Redan,” said Goodwin.
“We talked baseball all the time and
talked about baseball up until last
week before he passed away.”
Pruitt had 13 20-win seasons
during his career in DeKalb, includ-
ing 11 at Redan. He had three losing
seasons in DeKalb, all at Stephen-
son where he started the program in
1997 through 1999.
His 500th career victory came
on April 1, 2014, as his Redan Raid-
ers defeated Banneker 14-0 on the
way to a 22-win season and playoff
appearance in Pruitt’s final season in
the dugout.
Funeral services for Pruitt will
be Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. at The Cov-
enant Church in Decatur.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019 • Page 7

DECATUR

A rendering of the proposed eight-home subdivision along Forkner Drive in Decatur.

Back to the drawing board

Decatur developers pull out of neighborhood project
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
A Decatur-based retail
development company officially
withdrew its application for an
eight-home subdivision along
Forkner Drive in Decatur at a city
commission meeting Aug. 19.
After meeting with numerous
community leaders and
neighborhood association groups,
officials with Footprint Properties
originally planned to create a
13-townhome subdivision with
4-foot sidewalks and an area for
plants. The plan was then reduced
to eight homes with garage
entrances.
Attorney Laurel David,
representing Footprint Properties,
said the company would withdraw
its application and would take time
to consider feedback received from
the city’s planning commission.
“Rather than delay the
application any further, Footprint
Properties would like to withdraw
its application. This will also allow
Footprint Properties time to give
proper consideration to comments
made at the planning commission
hearing,” David said in an email to
the city’s planning director.  the project is still a concern.
On Aug. 13, the Decatur
Planning Commission voted to
recommend Decatur officials deny
approval for the new subdivision.
“We’ve had a lot of plans
and have changed the plans
dramatically. We’ve changed the
style of the architecture and spaced
the homes to reduce the massing
and impact on the neighbors,”
David said.  Homeowners Association, said he
During the planning
commission meeting, Decatur
residents still expressed concerns
regarding the development.  property would contain the same
Richard Reid, a resident of
Glenn Court, which neighbors
the property being considered
for development, said despite the
decrease in the number of homes,
“That’s nice math going from
10 to eight homes when you think
about it conceptually, but when
you look at the square footage
developed that’s there now versus
what [Footprint Properties] is
proposing, it’s more than double,”
Reid said. 
Brian Daughdrill, a
representative for Glenn Court
has concerns about the property and
the lack of space for eight homes.
According to Daughdrill, the new
number of homes as the Glenn
Court subdivision but on lots half
those at Glenn Court. 
“I’m a country boy and we have
an old saying that goes, ‘You’ve
got 10 pounds of flour in a five-
pound sack.’ That’s what you have
here,” said Daughdrill. “You have a
number of pieces that don’t fit. It’s a
very tight subdivision and it will be
very crowded.”

LESSONS Continued From Page 2

rights when interacting with the police.  said.  can bear.”
In May, film director Ava DuVernay released Greenforest Headmaster Millicent Black Greenforest Senior Pastor Emory Berry Jr.
the Netflix mini drama series When They See Us. said students prepared for Salaam’s arrival by said Salaam is a great example for students.
The movie helped make the plight of the Central studying the case and watching documentaries “I think it’s great for young people to see a
Park Five, now known as the Exonerated Five, about the Exonerated Five.  living, breathing example of someone who has
relevant for today’s youth, Salaam said.  “We want students to know that life can gone through the horrific experiences Mr. Salaam
“The movie was a concerted effort to utilize change at a moment’s notice. It doesn’t mean had to experience but still maintained a sense
new media and film and take young people and you’ve done something wrong,” Black said. of peace and forgiveness,” Berry said. “I also
transport them back in time through this story. “I think it helped the students by hearing from think our teachers did a great job of preparing
We wanted the young people of today to see this someone else and hearing [Salaam] talk about his students.”
story and know exactly what to do and how to relationship with God even through his toughest
survive if they’re ever in this situation,” Salaam times. God will never put more on us than we
 LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019 • Page 8

LITHONIA

DeKalb firefighters cooling off after working a house fire in Lithonia.

DeKalb County Fire and Rescue firefighters respond to a house fire at Justin Lane in Lithonia. Photos provided by DeKalb County Fire & Rescue. Firefighters care for a pair of dogs after a house fire in Lithonia

Residents escape
house fire Use these steps to follow
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN were entrapped [inside the
home] the first five minutes
safe medication practices:
horace@dekalbchamp.com on scene were very tense
because our crews wanted to ✓ Only use medications as directed by your
Three people escaped
a house fire just in time as
Use these steps to follow
make sure everyone was out
of the house.” healthcare professional
Bentley said he’s
safe medication practices:
DeKalb firefighters worked
to extinguish flames at a thankful everyone made
home in Lithonia. it out safely and is proud ✓ Never share your prescription
of the way the firefighters
The fire started on medications or take someone else’s
Aug. 20 near Justin Lane responded.  ✓ Only use medications as directed by your
as smoke and fire engulfed “For firefighters, medication
the home’s garage. DCFR experience is the best Use these steps to follow
healthcare professional
officials said three people teacher along with
were inside the home but preparation. Each fire safe medication practices:
✓ Safely secure medications and dispose of
Use these✓steps
Never share your prescription
were able to escape without is different. So, in this
serious injury. 
Two people were
to follow
situation, life safety was
medications or take someone else’s
first and then once we were
✓ Onlythem when no
use medications as longer needed
directed by your
healthcare professional
safe medication
transported to a hospital
with minor smoke-related
practices:
sure that all occupants
medication
were safe and no occupants ✓ Model safe medication practices
✓ Never share your prescription
injuries after DeKalb were inside, we worked on
medications or take someone else’s
County Fire and ✓ Rescue
Only useputting
medications
out the houseas directed by
fire,” your
Department put out the fire.  Bentley said.  ✓ Safely secure medications and dispose of
medication
healthcare Having
According to DCFR
Captain Dion Bentley, one smoke
professional
alarm
a working
them when no longer needed
in the house
For local information, visit
✓ Safely secure medications and dispose of
www.gu
hese steps to follow
woman was “exhausted”
✓ Never could save lives, according
share
after escaping the home and to Bentley. 
your prescription them when no longer needed
✓ Model safe medication practices
had to be carried tomedications
safety or take
“Smoke alarmssomeone
are else’s
✓ Brought
Model safeto you by: practices
medication practices:
by a DeKalb firefighter. 
medication
“Well it was a tough
the biggest lifesaver
home. They can alert you
in the
medication

operation because the to dangers that may be

y usedriveway
medications as directed by yoursaid.  and dispose of www.guideinc.org
For local information, visit www.guideinc.org
✓ Safely secure
was very steep,” coming,” Bentley
medications For local information, visit
Bentley said. “Coupled The cause of the fire is
thcare professional them when
with being told people no longer
still under investigation. needed
Brought to you by:
er share your prescription
✓ Model safe medication practices
Brought
dications or take someone else’s to you by:
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019• Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

Stonecrest Film and Entertainment Committee hosted actor, producer, director and screenwriter Robert Townsend (center) for his premiere Stonecrest broadcast of “Making The Five Heartbeats” at New Vision Stonecrest
16 theatre. Photo from Stonecrest City's Facebook page

Recently promoted police officers were recognized at a Brookhaven city council meeting on Aug. 13 at Brookhaven City Hall. Foreground
from left: Chief Gary Yandura, Lopez, Ayana, Fikes, and Deputy Chief Brandon Gurley. Background from left: Councilmember John Park,
Councilmember Linley Jones, Mayor John Ernst, Mayor Pro Tempore Joe Gebbia and Councilmember Bates Mattison. Photo provided by the
city of Brookhaven.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office hosted a softball game in support of

Freddie the Falcon, mascot for the Atlanta Falcons, surprised Ashford Park Elementary School Aug. 12. Photo provided by Ashford Park Deputy P. Snow and K9 Tomi after the two were involved in a car accident.
Elementary School Twitter. Proceeds from the event went to Snow.

Have you created programming you’d like to air on TV?

Do you have an interest in Public Access TV in DeKalb County?
Submit your show to DeKalb County’s Public Access channel, DeKalb 25.
Drop off DVD or USB copies to the Manuel J. Maloof Center at
1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030, or upload your content via the internet.

(404) 371-2325 DeKalb25@outlook.com DeKalb25.com

EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019 • Page 10

Lakeside band ready for new season

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Lakeside High School’s Viking
Marching Band is ready to show
crowds what they’ve been practicing.
“DeKalb County is extremely
fortunate that Lakeside High School
offers an outstanding band program
under the direction of David
Fairchild. Both Fairchild and Assistant
Band Director Daniel MacNamara
began their music careers when they
were Lakeside students, so they
feel a deep personal connection to
the students, the program and the
community,” said Michael Hoffer,
president of the Lakeside Band
Association.
The school’s band features nearly
100 students playing percussion,
winds and brass instruments, as well
as color guards and drum majors who
will present their “We are…” halftime
show for the current football season.
The band gave its first performance
Aug. 23.
“’We Are …’ is an exciting and
appropriate theme for both our school Students prepare for a variety of performance for their upcoming band season. Photo provided by Julie Herron Carson.
and community as a whole,” said
Fairchild.
The theme, according to Fairchild,
means “We are Lakeside, we are
diverse, we are community, we are
musicians [and] we are stronger
together.”
Students will perform a selection
of pop and classical music during
halftime performances.
“I hope our student musicians
and the audiences who enjoy the
performances will find their own
unique meaning of ‘We Are …’
that reflects their own lives and
experiences,” said Fairchild.
Not only will the band perform
during football games, the marching
and concert bands will participate in
Atlanta’s annual Dragon Con parade
Aug. 31 and the Stone Mountain
Yellow Daisy Festival Sept. 5.
“Lakeside’s Marching Band is
the only high school marching band
invited to participate in the Dragon
Con parade,” said Fairchild. “This is
the largest parade in the city, enjoyed
by tens of thousands of people both
in person and via a live TV broadcast.
We’re honored to be invited back for
the fifth time to participate in this
Atlanta tradition and we’re all looking
forward to it.”

Lakeside High School band practices during the summer. Photo provided by Julie Herron Carson.
EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019 • Page 11

COUNTYWIDE

Tinsley explains revised discipline practices

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Three years ago, DeKalb County School
District (DCSD) revamped its student code of
conduct to focus on restorative practices, and is
seeing results, according to DCSD officials.
The Champion Newspaper interviewed
DCSD Deputy Superintendent Vasanne Tinsley
about being mentioned in the ABA Journal
“Students of color with disabilities are being
pushed into the school-to-prison pipeline, study
finds” article.
In the article, published July 2019, the
website said DCSD “reported a 47 percent
decrease in disciplinary rates after adopting
restorative justice practices.”
“We started looking at restorative practices
which talk about the importance of not just
issuing the consequence but it gets to the meat
of what’s happening and why a student did what
they did. We talk it through with the student and
come up with a solution,” said Tinsley.
According to Tinsley, the new student
code of conduct breaks down consequences to
unfavorable behavior into levels from one to
10. Each level has a different strategy to work
with students. Level four conduct can result in a
student being suspended from school property.
Levels prior to level four include
administrators and counselors speaking with
parents and students to avoid future conflicts.
According to Tinsley, a percentage of students
with behavioral issues have problems in their
home life that converts into problems during
school hours or on school property.
“It’s a teachable moment for not only the
children and the staff─to understand what
the students were going through─but it was
teachable for the parents as well,” said Tinsley.
“It’s a rich approach”
The district introduced restorative practices
into schools such as McNair, Cedar Grove and
Towers high schools and later expanded district
wide. Since the introduction of restorative
practices, district officials have seen a drop in
suspensions and expulsions.
In-school suspensions (ISS) increased from
the 2017-2018 school year to the 2018-2019
school year from 10,211 to 10,608; Out-of-
school suspension (OSS) decreased from the
2017-2018 school year to the 2018-2019 school
year from 15,466 to 14,881; and expulsions
decreased from the 2017-2018 school year to the
2018-2019 school year from 17 to 16 expulsions,
according to DCSD.
DCSD’s top reasons for suspensions include
student incivility─rude or unsociable speech or
behavior, disorderly conduct, fights and battery.
The number of OSS and ISS suspensions
caused by student incivility decreased from
the 2017-2018 school year to the 2018-2019
school year from 7,723 to 7,303; and the number
of suspensions caused by disorderly conduct
decreased from the 2017-2018 school year
to the 2018-2019 school year from 6,801 to
6,175. However, DCSD reported an increase in
suspensions caused by fights in the 2017-2018
school year to the 2018-2019 school from 3,991
to 4,227 and an increase in suspensions caused
by battery in the 2017-2018 school year to the
2018-2019 school from 2,585 to 2,682, according
to DCSD.
If suspended, a student is required to have
a reentry interview─sometimes with a parent
present─to discuss what happened and the
student’s future behavior.
“Students are spending more time in class
because of the changes. If they aren’t in class,
they can’t learn. When they are out of school
unsupervised, they stand a higher chance of
getting into trouble and doing other things,” said
Tinsley. “So we want them in school as much as
we can possibly keep them in school”

EDUCATION BRIEFS by Taylor Robins • Taylor@dekalbchamp.com

Becklenberg receives nursing
award
Georgia State University
student Amy Becklenberg of
Decatur received the Nursing
Student Research Award in
recognition of outstanding
research contributions.
Becklenberg is described as a
role model for other students and
shows the potential to become
a significant contributor to the
nursing profession.
Vaughn awarded outstanding
M.A.T. student award
Sharnese Vaughn of
Lithonia is the 2019 recipient
of Georgia State University’s
Outstanding M.A.T. Student
Award in Language Arts and
Social Studies.
The award, given by the
university’s College of Education
& Human Development,
recognizes a language arts
and social studies student
for outstanding academic
achievement, teaching expertise,
community service and a
commitment to excellence.
Stone Mountain College
Student Presents Health
Research
Faraiba Faqeerzada of
Stone Mountain was among
the New York Institute of
Technology students who
presented research at this
year’s Alethia Annual
Research Symposium.
Decatur student inducted into
leadership society
Troy University recognized
Lucas Sanabria of Decatur as
among the first to be inducted
into the National Society of
Leadership and Success.
This is the charter group of
members into the TROY chapter
of the NSLS.
Lewis College inducts
students into Alpha Eta
National Honor Society
The Byrdine F. Lewis
College of Nursing and Health
Professions at Georgia State
University recently inducted
student leaders into the Alpha
Eta National Honor Society.
Inductees include
Salina Isayas of Lithonia;
Nura Mohamed of Stone
Mountain; Karen Riggs, and
Mary Alvarez and Schonie
Hamilton of Decatur.
The Alpha Eta National
Honor Society promotes and
recognizes contributions to
allied health professions.
Baccalaureate degree
candidates who have
maintained an overall GPA of
3.5 or higher are eligible for
induction.
 AROUNDDeKalb
DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019 • Page 12

CLARKSTON
City accepting art ideas
Clarkston Arts Council is ac-
cepting art submissions to bring
more public art to the city. Artists
have until Sept. 10 to submit a
project through a Clarkston com-
munity RFP/RFQ artist submission
form. Forms are available at www.
clarkstonga.gov.
DUNWOODY
CPR classes available
The Dunwoody Police Depart-
ment will host a free community
CPR class Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. Par-
ticipants must be at least 12 years
of age and must be Dunwoody
residents.
The course is ideal for those
who want to learn CPR but do not
need a CPR course completion card
to meet a job requirement.
The event will take place at
City of Dunwoody Training An-
nex─4470 North Shallowford Road
in Dunwoody.
City offers mental health training
The Dunwoody Police
Department will host free a mental
health first aid training session for
Dunwoody residents Oct. 19 from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m.
The event will take place in located at 3123 Klondike Road. For
the City of Dunwoody Training more information, call (770) 482-
Annex─4470 North Shallowford 3828.
Road.
Mental Health First Aid USA
is an eight-hour training workshop TUCKER
to teach participants to help those
developing mental health problems Library to host blood drive
or experiencing a mental health
crisis. Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library
will host a blood drive Sept. 4
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule
STONECREST an appointment, visit www.
redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor
Library to host book discussion keyword: tuckerlib. The library is
located at 5234 Lavista Road.
Mark Mathabane’s book Kaffir
Boy: The True Story of a Black
Youth’s Coming of Age in Apartheid
South Africa will be discussed Sept.
9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The library is

EDUCATION /CAREER TRAINING

CLASSIFIEDSection
AIRLINE Career. AVIATION Grads work with Delta,
United, Boeing, and others. Get hands on training
for FAA certification. Financial aid if qualified. Call
Aviation Institute of Maintenance (866) 564-9634
www.FixJets.com
Online Pharmacy Technician Training New Students
Only. Call & Press 1. Financial Aid Available for those
who qualify. 100% online Courses. Call 855-212-
7763.
Medical Billing and Coding Training. New Students
Only. Call and Press 1. 100% Online courses.
Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. Call
833-628-2698.
FOR SALE
KILL BED BUGS! Buy Harris Sprays,Traps, Kits,
Mattress Covers. DETECT, KILL PREVENT Available
Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com
KILL ROACHES – GUARANTEED! Buy Harris Roach
Tablets, Sprays, Traps, Concentrate. MOST EFFECTIVE!
Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot,
homedepot.com
FINANCIAL
PROBLEM CREDIT REPORT? Lexington Law helps
to challenge inaccurate negative items including:
Identity theft, collections, late payments, liens and
more from your credit report. Call for a free credit
repair consultation: 877-250-3937. John C. Heath,
Attorney at Law, PLLC, dba Lexington Law Firm.
HEALTHCARE
A Place For Mom. The nation’s largest senior
living referral service. Contact our trusted,
local experts today! Our service is FREE/no
obligation.1-855-508-8043.
STOP STRUGGLING ON THE STAIRS. Give your life a
lift with an Acorn Stairlift. Call now for $250 off your
Stairlift purchase & Free DVD brochure. 855-200-
4205.
Get A-Rated Dental Insurance starting at around $1
per day! Save 25% on Enrollment Now! No Waiting
Periods. 200k+ Providers Nationwide. Everyone is
Accepted! Call 844-658-0555 (M-F 9-5 ET).
Attention: VIAGRA & CIALIS USERS!! A cheaper
alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special
$99.00. Free Shipping! 100% Guaranteed. Call Now
888-411-3860.
INSTRUCTION
CUTE KIDS make money in TV commercials,
magazines, movies, commercial print ads. Call Pope
Models 404-246-7823. 1075 Peachtree Street,
Midtown, Atlanta, GA 30311. No classes. Interviewing
now.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the
most advanced debris-blocking gutter protectin.
Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off
and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior
& Military Discounts. Call 1-877-735-0477.
Energy Saving NEW WINDOWS! Beautify your home!
Save on monthly energy bills with New Windows
from 1800REMODEL! UP TO 18 MONTHS NO
INTEREST. RESTRICTIONS APPLY 844-214-5488.

The Champion is not responsible for any damages resulting from advertisements. All sales final.
RATES: $30 for up to 40 words, each Ads due by Friday at noon for next publication DISCLAIMER: We do not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate,
or intend to discriminate, on any illegal basis. Nor do we knowingly accept
additional word $0.60. All ads are prepaid. All date. For more information visit www. employment advertisements that are not bona-fide job offers. All real estate
advertisements are subject to the fair housing act and we do not accept
major credit cards accepted. championclassifieds.com advertising that is in violation of the law. The law prohibits discrimination
based on color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status.
BUSINESS
COUNTYWIDE
Restaurant owner Dinh Tran says he will not compromise the quality or authenticity of the food he serves at Vietvana.
Restauranteur seeks to keep it real
with authentic Vietnamese flavors
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
Dinh Tran said when he was a
preteen, he often prepared his own
meals because his parents were
busy with work. “Often my mom
would prep the food and leave it
for me to stir fry in the wok,” he
recalled, adding that over time food
preparation became a passion for
him.
Tran now holds a business
degree from the University of
Georgia and chooses to make his
living in the restaurant business. “I
was offered a corporate job, but I
really love food and cooking. I’ve
always known this is what I want to
do.” His newest venture Vietvana
on East College Avenue in Avondale
Estates, which opened in mid-
August, features the cuisine of his
family’s home country, Vietnam.
“My family on both sides were
wealthy in Vietnam, but they were
South Vietnamese and when the
war was over and our side lost, the
new government took everything
they had, and they escaped with
very little. They were among the
‘boat people’ who left the country
seeking refuge wherever they
could find it. The family initially
went to Hong Kong, but because
my father had been helpful to the
U.S. government, the family was
allowed asylum here. My parents
worked very hard after they got here
because they were basically starting
over from nothing.”
Soon after college, Tran opened
his first restaurant, but recalls that
he was disappointed in the outcome.
“I was just 22. I was working long
hours, but not accomplishing what
I set out to do. I realized I had a lot
to learn.” Tran then took a series
of jobs in restaurants with a goal
of learning every aspect of the
business. “I worked as a cook, a
dishwasher, a waiter, a manager. I
wanted to know how to do every
job in a restaurant no matter how
seemingly routine it might be,” he
said.
When Tran was ready to try
DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019 • Page 13
Noodles are made fresh every day in the restaurant.
again as a restaurant owner, he
said, he was knowledgeable enough
to correct any problem no matter
whether it was with ordering
supplies, organizing the kitchen,
preparing food or interacting with a
customer.
“I had an opportunity to
partner with a California-based
chain of Vietnamese restaurants,
but I decided against it when I
realized that their standards are
not my standards,” Tran said. “I
won’t take shortcuts to save time
or money. I’ve been told people
here don’t know anything about
Vietnamese food; they won’t know
the difference, but I know the
difference. I won’t compromise. I
always ask my staff, ‘Is this the best
we can do?’ If we can do better, we
will.”
An example of the commitment
to excellence, Tran said, is the
noodles. “They are made fresh
here every day. I won’t use mass
produced noodles from a supplier.
Those who know the difference can
taste the difference fresh noodles
make. The bánh mì [the bread used
for sandwiches] is baked here too. I
use other fresh ingredients as well.
We buy from local sources when
possible,” he continued.
Tran said product integrity is
a hallmark of his business. “If the
menu says an item is fresh, it will
be fresh; if I sell it as organic, I
make sure it’s organic,” he said,
adding that he visits the source for
his products as often as he can to be
sure everything is being produced to
his standards.
Along with meat and seafood
menu items, Vietvana offers a
selection of vegetarian dishes.
Vietvana Pho Noodle House offers
not only noodle-based dishes, but
also many featuring rice as well as
sandwiches, crepes and salads. Tran,
who said the soups are his favorites,
noted that everything is as close
to authentic Vietnamese flavors as
possible with available ingredients.
“I want to bring the tastes my
family loved in Vietnam to our new
home in Georgia,” Tran said.
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019 • Page 14

SOCCER

Martin Luther King Jr. senior Darian Wragg finished first in the second boys’ DeKalb County School District cross country Lakeside senior Mikias MeKonen finished first in the first boys’ DeKalb County School
meet. Photos by Mark Brock District cross country meet.

Lakeside, M.L. King win in cross country openers

by Mark Brock
Mikias Mekonen picked up where he left
off at the 2018 DeKalb County School District’s
(DCSD) cross country championships with a
time of 16:46.30 to lead the Lakeside Vikings to
a win in the opening meet of the 2019 season on
Aug. 20 at Druid Hills Middle School.
Mekonen, who won the 2018 individual
county title, got off to a quick start and never
looked back. Lakeside finished the meet with
a team score of 33 points to edge Chamblee
(39). Tucker finished third with 82 points and
Dunwoody (84) finished fourth.
Three other Vikings finished in the Top 10—
sophomore Adam Grisch (19:57.90) in fourth,
junior Mason Mihalis (20:08.80) in sixth and
junior Brandon Rutland (20:09.00) in seventh.
The Chamblee Bulldogs also put four runners
in the Top 10, led by junior Diego DeAlba
(19:33.90) in third and sophomore Brandon
Carpenter (20:05.70) in fifth. Junior Fisher
Isaacson (20:44.20) was eighth and junior
Nicholas Oselette (20:58.30) was 10th.
Dunwoody sophomore Ethan Archibald
took second in 19:09.10 and Tucker sophomore
Abedelemejid Kerebo finished in 20:54.30 for
ninth place to round out the Top 10.
Lakeside made it a clean sweep in the first
race of the day as the Lady Vikings took the
first seven spots to outduel Chamblee 15-50 as a
group finished within five seconds of each other.
Freshman Ellie Skelton (26:05.60) took the
individual girls’ title, followed by senior Sydney
DeWoody (26:06.70) and sophomore Abigail
McHoul (26:08.30), who finished second and
third respectively.
Sophomores Olivia Rotolo (26.09.20),
Lilian Hanson (26:10.20) and Kate Van Horn
(26:10.80) and senior Gracie Ellett (26:10.90)
comprised the next four places for Lakeside,
respectively.
Chamblee grabbed the next five spots, led
by senior Klara Nitsche (26:13.60), followed
by sophomore Madeleine Quick (26:17.80),
freshman Olivia Tabron (26:30.70), senior
Hattie Carter (26:31.70) and freshman Anna
Zhai (26:41.70).
In the second boys’ race of the day, the
Martin Luther King Jr. Lions took the first five
spots on the way to a 15-50 win over Lithonia.
The Lions had five seniors claim top spots
in the race led by Darian Wragg (20:04.20),
who finished first. Teammates Kingsley Harris
(21:01.20), Zaire Anderson-Brown (21:09.90),
Christian Boyd (21:19.80) and Jamari Hopkins
(21:25.30) followed in order.
King also had three more runners to finish in
the Top 10—senior Phillip Ellison Jr. (22:38.70)
in seventh, junior Mekhi Keith (23:48.20) in
eighth and senior Lametreis Mede (24:16.80)
in 10th. Towers senior Aye Min Thu (21:46.90)
was sixth and Cross Keys junior Siam Sarower
(24:16.50) was ninth.
The second girls’ race had only two
participants—MLK sophomore Demetria Lind
(27:54.60), who finished first and senior Allsion
Walker (31:07.70) in second.
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019 • Page 15

The Champion’s game of the week:

Southwest DeKalb vs. Stephenson
by Carla Parker • carla@dekalbchamp.com
Bragging rights will be on the line Aug. 30 as rivals
Southwest DeKalb and Stephenson clash at Hallford Stadium at
8 p.m.
Both teams are coming off week 1 wins—Southwest
DeKalb Panthers defeated Woodland-Stockbridge 39-7 and the
Stephenson Jaguars beat Columbia 27-14. The Panthers had a
26-7 lead at halftime and the defense kept Woodland out the end
zone for the remainder of the game. Stephenson battled back
from a 14-6 halftime deficit and outscored Columbia 21-0 in the
second half to pull out the victory.
The Jaguars are hoping to avenge their loss to Southwest
DeKalb last season when the Panthers defeated Stephenson 21-
14 in overtime, ending a seven-game losing streak to the Jaguars.
The rivalry between Southwest DeKalb and Stephenson is
one of the biggest in the county. The series began in 1998, which
Southwest DeKalb won 29-19. The teams have played each other
15 times with Stephenson leading the series 9-6.
The Jaguars’ defense will have to find a way to slow down
Southwest DeKalb’s offense if they want to win this game. If
the Panthers play as well offensively and defensively as they did
against Woodland, they could extend their winning streak against The rivalry between Southwest DeKalb and Stephenson will continue Aug. 30 at Hallford Stadium. (file photo)
Stephenson.

WEEKLY FOOTBALL
SCORES
Towers defeated McNair 33-21 at Avondale
Stadium on Aug. 23. Towers’ defense
held McNair to 27 passing yards. McNair
sophomore Javon Yearby led his team in
rushing with 201 yards and two touchdowns.

Aug. 22

Redan (1-0) 26, Miller Grove (0-1) 19

Lithonia (1-0) 51, Forest Park (0-1) 0

Aug. 23
McNair sophomore Javon Yearby finds open space that leads to the end zone. Photos by Carla Parker
Decatur (1-0) 51, Lakeside (0-1) 0
Druid Hills (1-0) 28, Clarkston (0-1) 0
Southwest DeKalb (1-0) 39, Woodland-
Stockbridge (0-1) 7
Stephenson (1-0) 27, Columbia (0-1) 14
Towers (1-0) 33, McNair (0-1) 21
Blessed Trinity (1-0) 28, St. Pius X (0-1) 10
Forsyth Central (1-0) 43, Chamblee (0-1) 10
Pickens Co. (1-0) 28, Stone Mountain (0-1) 18
Providence Christian (1-0) 64, Cross Keys (0-1)
Towers coach Vonnell Carter celebrates with his players after a big play 0
by Towers.
Aug. 24

Cedar Grove (1-0) 26, Hapeville Charter (0-1)

16
Archer (1-0) 41, Tucker (1-0) 7
Carver-Atlanta (1-0) 32, Arabia Mountain (0-1)
11

Open: Dunwoody, M.L. King, Marist

McNair sophomore Javon Yearby jukes a Tower’s defender for a big gain. Towers quarterback receives the snapped ball at the line of scrimmage.
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • Friday, August 30, 2019 • Page 16

PET WEEK
Tyson Blu
(ID# 42029404)
is waiting for you.
He's friendly and sweet, loves
everyone he meets.

Thursday, September 19 • 7:00 p.m. He's easy to walk, knows how

to sit.
He's awfully cute, you must
Decatur Marriott Conference Center admit.
All he needs is someone to
130 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030 give all his love to.
All proceeds from the event support DeKalb County Public Library. Meet him today and see if it
could be you!
Tickets may be purchased for $70.00 per person at dekalblibraryfoundation.org If you would like to expand your family by 4 furry little feet; ask to
meet Tyson Blu and have a loving friend forever. All adoptions
include your new pet's spay or neuter, vaccinations, microchip
and more! For more information about Tyson Blu please call
(404) 294-2165 or email adoption@dekalbanimalservices.com.
All potential adopters will be screened to ensure Tyson Blu goes
to a good home. Hours: Mon-Fri; 11am-7pm / Sat-Sun; 11am-
6pm

Not ready to adopt or already have enough pets? Then please

consider fostering a pet. We are in urgent need of foster homes
for two weeks or more, since our shelter is completely full and

VISIT US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

we are out of room. We will provide everything you need, and
you just supply the love. Interested in helping? Please contact
foster@dekalbanimalservices.com.
@ DE K ALBC HA M PN E W S

WilD^
Alaskan
Salmon in season now!

image courtesy of Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute

10" x 6.5"