the DeKalb FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • VOL. 24, NO.

34• FREE

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Nine-year-old Bryce Michael Hughes has written more than 200 comic books and produced films. Photo by Carla Parker

Nine-year-old published writer aspires to be filmmaker

BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Not many 9-year-old students
can say they are both published
writer and a filmmaker, but Bryce
Michael Hughes can.
Hughes, who goes by Bryce
Michael, has written more than 200
comic books. Three of which have
been published and being sold at
My Parents’ Basement comic book
store and restaurant in Avondale
Estates and online; his school
library also has them available for
checkout.
Hughes said he became
interested in writing comic books
after reading books by authors Mo
Williams and Dav Pilkey.
“My teacher from first grade,
Ms. Robinson, showed us this video
about something Mo Williams had
written, and I decided to write my
own book,” Hughes said. “I decided
to show it to everyone.”
Hughes wrote his first comic
book, titled “Bryce the Cop,” at 6
years old and has since written three
“Bryce the Cop” books. He said he
wrote about cops because, “[Cops]
are actually pretty cool and I wanted
to be one when I was 6, but now I
want to be a filmmaker.”
Hughes also wrote a book that
features his mom, Jwaundace “JC”
Candece, as a superhero called
“Captain JC.” He said his next book
will be a horror book that he wants
to turn into a film. He said authors
and filmmakers such as Stephen
King, Jordan Peele and R.L. Stine
inspired him to try his hand at
horror.
“Horror books are very
interesting to a lot of adults and
some kids,” he said. “I’ve decided
to make this next [one a] horror
book and I think it’s going to be
awesome and it’s going to be a
movie.”
Candece said she thinks she also
helped inspire him to go into horror
writing because she watches a lot of
scary movies.
“Now, he tells me what scary
movies are coming out,” she said.
“He likes to scare people and dress
up for Halloween and scare people.
He also does pranks.”
Hughes has filmed several
short scary movies—a series titled
“Hand Under the Bed,” which can
be viewed on his YouTube page.
He writes and edits his own movies
and has created his own production
company, “Laughing Scared
Production.”
“It says ‘laughing’ because
some of the movies I make can be
funny, and some of the movies can
be scary,” Hughes said.
Along with writing books,
creating films and managing
his own production company,
Hughes also leads a book club

See FILMMAKER on page 6

Visit www.TheChampionNewspaper.com for local, real DeKalb County news.

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 2

DeKalb County Solicitor General

Donna Coleman-Stribling presents:

dancing
dekalb stars
with the

Sat. Oct. 26 Porter Sanford III

Doors & Expo Performing Arts &
open at 5 p.m. Community Center
Dancing begins 3181 Rainbow Drive
at 6 p.m. Decatur

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Light refreshments Proceeds to benefit: Official Media

provided by Sponsor
LOCAL
SOUTH DEKALB
South DeKalb Family YMCA has been in south DeKalb for more than 50 years.
YMCA serves as one-stop shop for south DeKalb
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
South DeKalb Family
YMCA has been a prominent
community center in south
DeKalb County for more
than five decades.
Located off Snapfinger
Road, the Y provides
health, educational and
recreational services for its
members of all ages. During
summer break, there are
camp services available to
children, and partnerships
with Emory Hospital and
Kaiser Permanente has
allowed the Y to inform
members about diabetes
prevention and Parkinson’s
disease.
“The YMCA has done
a lot in the community,”
said South DeKalb Family
YMCA Executive Director
Curtis Winston.
Winston has been with
the South DeKalb branch
for almost 30 years. He was
appointed executive director
in 2012.
“My first part-time job in
Atlanta was as a lifeguard at
the YMCA. I saw the things
[the YMCA] did for people
in the community, whether it
was teaching them to swim,
whether it was talking about
nutrition, whether it was
healthy habits surrounding
exercise, and it grew on me,”
Winston said. “I realized that
I could do this as a career,
and I continued to work
myself through the Y and
moved forward and that’s
how I got here today.”
South DeKalb Family
YMCA is the largest
nonprofit entity in south
DeKalb that focuses
on youth development,
programs for seniors
and programs for adults,
according to Winston. He
said it encompasses a large
piece of what south DeKalb
needs in terms of health,
nutrition, exercise and
programs for youth.
“South DeKalb YMCA,
in essence, is a one-stop shop
when it comes to families, as
well as youth,” he said.
Membership fees for
the Y vary with rates for
age groups and families. A
family membership costs
$99. The Y does provide
financial assistance to help
cover membership costs.
Winston said the branch
pays more than $200,000 a
year in financial support to
participants.
“We take on an annual
campaign where we do
raise dollars on an annual
basis to support families
or participants that comes
to the YMCA and want to
participate in Y programs but
cannot afford the traditional
fees,” Winston said. “We
raise about $80,000 of the
$200,000 we spend.”
Winston said one of the
challenges the Y faces is
making residents aware of
the importance of the annual
campaign.
“That’s a huge challenge
because money is tight,
and people make selective
decisions on how to spend
the money,” he said. “One
of our challenges at the Y is,
how we make the YMCA
a part of their discretionary
giving [options], if there are
any.”
South DeKalb Family
YMCA board members
also assist with the annual
campaign to raise funds for
membership scholarships.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 3
South DeKalb Family YMCA has a computer lab for academic studies.
Board member Omari
Crawford, who has been
a member of the South
DeKalb Y since he was a
child, set a goal to raise
$2,500. Crawford said he
wants the fundraiser to help
bring more children to the Y
and its programs.
“Every [parent] can’t
pay for those programs.
However, the YMCA doesn’t
turn a blind eye to them
because we prefer [students]
to be in this program [as] South DeKalb Family YMCA provides recreational and sports programming, including
opposed to being elsewhere basketball. Photos by Carla Parker
where [they] have idle time
to do whatever,” Crawford
said.
Another challenge the Y
faces, according to Winston,
is the small amount of
programming for teenagers
and early learning programs.
“There is a huge need
for early learning centers in
south DeKalb, but on a much
larger scale,” Winston said.
“Youth development is a key
need in south DeKalb and
when I drive around, look
SEE YMCA ON PAGE 16 South DeKalb Family YMCA also provides swim lessons.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ZONING APPLICATION FOR 6801 PARKWAY DRIVE
Notice is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Lithonia,
Georgia will hold a public hearing on a rezoning application submitted by
Michael Syphoe on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at 6:00 PM, in the Lithonia
City Hall at 6920 Main Street, Lithonia, Georgia. The application concerns
the rezoning of 6801 Parkway Drive from the current R-60, Single-Family
Residential District to the O-I Office-Institution District. The proposed O-I zoning
would allow establishment of a 96-unit “Senior Living and Memory Care” facility
on the property.
Written comments concerning the proposed rezoning may be filed with the
City Clerk prior to the public hearing or submitted at the hearing. Individuals
interested in commenting on the proposed zoning, either in writing or verbally,
will be given the opportunity to be heard at the above mentioned time and place.
The application, findings and recommendations of the Zoning Administrator,
and the Official Zoning Map indicating the location of the 6801 Parkway Drive
property, may be examined at Lithonia City Hall, Lithonia, Georgia. Further
information may be obtained by contacting Ms. Robin Blount, Interim City Clerk,
at 770.482.8136, ext. 128.
Deborah A. Jackson
Mayor, City of Lithonia
OPINION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 4

Searching for answers, finding irony

During the last 10 years, deal of family information for me to distant relatives.
I intermittently engaged in review. Ironically, as was rumored
genealogical research online and As I began compiling the newly for years and confirmed by Lady
found quite a bit of information found information and merging Diana in 1995, the princess had a
about both my mother’s and father’s it with what had already been lengthy affair with James Hewitt,
families; however, a recent trip JOHN HEWITT uncovered, it became apparent that who is believed by some to be the
to the PeeDee region of South my family had at one time been biological father of Prince Harry,
johnh@dekalbchamp.com
Carolina yielded much more prominent farmers and business Duke of Sussex. It certainly appears
information about the Hewitt family owners in the coastal Carolina area. that not only were Diana and James
than I ever imagined could be Sadly, though, as is often the case, lovers but were distant cousins as
had been shared with us by our
found. family wealth and social standings well.
father.
My father’s parents both died at can vary wildly from generation to Those who know me, and other
Prior to my visit to Darlington
early ages and my father became the generation. members of my family, know well
and Florence, S.C., while
responsibility of his older siblings. I also discovered that a distant that we certainly do not conduct
conducting online research, I
Shortly after the Great Depression ancestor was a passenger on the ourselves in accordance with proper
discovered a family cemetery
began, the older siblings were Mayflower and that my fifth great social protocol.
located on Hewitt Cemetery Road,
unable to pay the property taxes on grandfather, Eliphalet Hewitt, was It maybe time to pull out a copy
just south of downtown Florence.
the family land and the land was an officer in the South Carolina of The Amy Vanderbilt Complete
Hewitt Cemetery contains the
foreclosed on. Militia and played an active role in Book of Etiquette; which was a
remains of many generations of my
Having few options and the Revolutionary War. go-to source in our home when my
ancestors. Additional names and
struggling to provide for Even more interesting, however, siblings and I were growing up if
dates that were readily available
themselves, my father’s siblings was the discovery of a book titled there were ever questions regarding
on tombstones provided answers
placed him in an orphanage when American Ancestors and Cousins how to conduct ourselves in certain
to many questions I could not find
he was 8 years old; he remained of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales. situations. Obviously, most of
answers for in online searches.
there until he was 17 and could Apparently, our family shares a us must have missed quite a few
Also prior to the visit, I had
voluntarily leave. We knew very common ancestor with the Spencer chapters somewhere along the way
communicated with the historian at
little about the Hewitt side of our family that dates to the 1600s. or forgot what we were taught as
Darlington Historical Society, who
family other than what few stories Princes William and Harry are youngsters.
was kind enough to gather a great

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To subscribe, visit DeKalbLegalNotices.com
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#ItsInTheChampion
OPINION
“You need to have a market,
and that’s what we lost with
China,” said Anne Germain, VP
of technical and regulator affairs
for National Waste and Recycling
Association, as reported September
9, 2019 in The Wall Street Journal.
I began recycling first with
newspapers during elementary
school paper drives—made sense
as our family was also in the
newspaper business and public
pressure was growing on publishers
to use recycled stock. By college,
I had added collecting empty
aluminum cans to my recycling
habits; I was a broke college kid
and at peak, recycling centers were
paying around 33 cents a pound.    a couple of decades ago to turn its
Those realities have shifted
substantially though, and in just
the past two years, markets for the
bulk of recyclable commodities
have all but collapsed. You may still
be sorting, separating and placing
recyclables in your blue bin at
home, but there is a more than a
decent chance that a healthy portion
of that once recyclable waste stream
is now heading straight to a landfill.  trip.
More than a generation ago,
China was a fast-developing
country in need of multiple types
of raw materials that it was unable
to manufacture in sufficient supply
on its own. Already a massive net
exporter, the Chinese government
and shippers realized they had
thousands of empty cargo containers
in the United States and elsewhere
in the Western world about to be
shipped back to China. Buying
discarded metals, plastics, paper
and glass for a pittance and filling
those empty containers that had to
be shipped back anyway was an
inexpensive solution to producing
more raw materials.    Most tire rubber can be
As late as 2017, the U.S.
exported roughly 14.5 million
metric tons of recycled waste to
China. China announced in 2017
FREEPRESS
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 5
Realities of recycling
of burning coal for energy—is Nearly eight million metric tons
‘One Man’s toxic and filled with heavy metals
similar to mercury. Coal ash could
of plastic waste are seeping and
creeping into the world’s oceans
Opinion’ potentially be used as a low-cost every year. Depending on where
road patching material as well as your fish and shellfish are caught,
Bill Crane mixed with traditional asphalt (a you are probably now occasionally
bill.csicrane@gmail.com petroleum-based product) and if a eating some micro-bits of that
rubber liner (made from tires) was plastic waste. 
under that same roadbed, there Not exactly an appetizing
that beginning in 2018 it would no
would be much less opportunity thought but choking on our own
longer accept many kinds of waste.
for leaching into any nearby waste never is. We can’t look the
During the phase-down in 2018,
underground aquifer.  other way anymore, with China out
China still accepted 9.4 million
The Chinese still incinerate our of the mix, our trash is here to stay;
metric tons, but only a fraction of
old unusable trash as a fuel source, let’s figure out more ways to again
that tonnage so far in 2019. 
but there are plenty of air quality turn that trash back in to treasure.
Recycled commodity markets
concerns with that approach. As
have collapsed. Mixed paper was
it continues to reduce its waste Bill Crane also serves as a
going for $67 a metric ton as late
product footprint, the Coca-Cola political analyst and commentator
as August of 2017. The current
Company developed a partnership for Channel 2’s Action News, WSB-
price for the city, county or state
AM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5
government seeking to dispose of
waste plastic bottles into carpet FM, as well as a columnist for The
the paper is $2 per metric ton. 
fiber.  Champion, DeKalb Free Press and
 While many municipalities here
More carpet is now produced Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb
and elsewhere consider banning
with polyesters and similar recycled native and business owner, living
single-use plastics altogether,
plastic fibers than wool. However in Scottdale. You can reach him
consider your community without
only about 9 percent of all plastics or comment on a column at bill.
pooper scoop baggies, your local
are currently being recycled.  csicrane@gmail.com. 
newspaper sitting on the lawn
soaked in a light rain without a
delivery bag or remembering to
carry bags/boxes on every shopping
 
A good bit of single-use plastics
came about for product safety
reasons, the interior lid/sealant on
most food products, the plastic wrap
around virtually every over-the
counter drug (a result of the Tylenol
tampering scare of the 1980s), these
plastics can be removed, but are we
willing to sacrifice those protections
and assurances of some degree of
product safety?
Illegal dumping also remains a
problem, particularly and often in
lower income communities. The
ingenuity of American industry
should be incented here to do more. 
granulized into rubber, then used for
playground and other recreational
surfaces, or perhaps as a roadway
substrate. Coal ash—a by-product
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
John Hewitt Carla Parker STATEMENT FROM THE
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Dr. Earl D. Glenn discussion surrounding this and any
Social Media Manager: issue of interest to DeKalb County.
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expressly to provide a forum for
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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
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 6

STONE MOUNTAIN

Residents petition to rename

Stone Mountain street
BY CARLA PARKER
Carla@dekalbchamp.com
Stone Mountain residents
want a street named after a
Ku Klux Klan member to be
renamed in honor of two women
who were pioneers in the
Shermantown community.
The city held a public hearing
Oct. 1 to discuss a request to
change Venable Street to Eva
Mamie Lane Street in honor
of the late Eva Jewel Greene
and her daughter Mamie Ella
Lane. The original request was
to change a portion of the street
in the historic African American
community, but city manager
ChaQuias Miller-Thornton
said the request was amended
to change the name of the entire
street. A second public hearing is
scheduled for Oct. 15.
The request was brought by
resident Vanessia Cummings,
who lived across the street from
Greene and Lane. Cummings
and other residents who knew
the two women, said the street
should be renamed to recognize
Greene’s and Lane’s work in
Stone Mountain.
Greene was a founder of
DeKalb Economic Opportunity
Authority in 1966 and served
as the authority’s director and
community organizer for three
decades. She also founded Stone
Mountain Negro Civic League
and served as its president for
more than 20 years.
Lane founded House of
Bethel Church in 1963. The
church had an outreach ministry
that clothed, fed and educated
children in the community.
In 1974, Green and Lane co-
founded Georgia Citizens
Coalition on Hunger. Greene died
Jan. 1, 2006, and Lane died on
Feb. 2.
Lydia Shumake, niece of
Greene and first cousin of Lane,
said she was elated when she was
told that residents want to rename
Venable Street in honor of her
relatives.
“They were a beacon in this
community,” Shumake said.
“They were pioneers in the
community. They sponsored
so many kids to go to college.
My aunt started the first Equal
Opportunity of Atlanta [and]
Mamie Ella was right beside her
the entire time, working with
her and being that beacon in the
community.”
Venable Street is named after
former Stone Mountain mayor
James Venable, who organized
and was the Imperial Wizard of
Venable Street is named after former Stone Mountain mayor James Venable, who organized and was the
the National Knights of the Klan.
Imperial Wizard of the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
According to residents, Venable
led marches and held rallies in
Shermantown from the 1960s
through 1980s promoting racial
hatred and intolerance, inciting
fear in the community.
Resident Mike Cooper said
he thinks it’s incumbent upon
Stone Mountain to show that
it opposes racial hatred and
intolerance.
“It is reasonable and proper
that the city recognize Eva
Jewel Greene and Mamie Ella
Lane for their selfless work in
the city of Stone Mountain’s
Shermantown community,”
Cooper said.
Rev. Orea Parker, pastor
of Saint Paul AME Church in
Shermantown, said renaming
Venable Street expresses an
intent of Shermantown to retain
its history and move forward.
“Let’s do the right thing.
Let’s move forward,” Parker
said. “Let’s take away some of
the things that are negative in
our community because it is
with the hope of rebuilding our
community for a hopeful future
of our young people.”
Stone Mountain residents are requesting to rename Venable Street in the Shermantown community to honor
the legacy of the late Eva Jewel Greene (right) and her daughter Mamie Ella Lane. Photo provided

FILMMAKER Continued From Page 1

that he created at his school, DeKalb Academy
of Technology and Environment. Sixteen
students are in the book club, which is split
into two groups. The students read two books a
semester—one fiction and one nonfiction.
“I give them an assignment,” he said.
“After both groups read each book, I have them
compare and contrast the two books.”
Hughes said his life goal is to write books
that can be turned into movies. Candece said she
is proud of what her son has accomplished at his
young age.
“It inspires me because I’m a stunt woman
and actress myself,” she said. “He has seen me
and my work. He goes to a lot of my auditions
with me, he comes to the studios with me.”
Candece has done stunt work for 20 years
and has been in more than 150 movies. She said
at first, she was against Hughes being interested
in the movie business because she knows how
tough the business can be.
“I think this business can drive you crazy,
but I like that he’s on the production side and
he wants to create and produce,” she said.
“That makes me happy. He’s so creative and
I can’t deny that. I try to support him and his
endeavors.”
LOCAL
Emory professor receives breast cancer research grant
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation Inc.
announced $26 million in
funding for new research
projects in September
and Emory University
Assistant Professor Lauren
McCullough is among the
organization’s recipients.
“She’s the real deal,” said
CEO of Komen Atlanta Cati
Stone. “She’s really in this for
all the right reasons. She is a
truly wonderful person that
cares about her community.”
Born and raised in Decatur
and a graduate of Cedar Grove
High School, McCullough
has received $445,000 to
study factors that can lead to
racial differences─particually
in the African American
community─in breast cancer
metastasis mortality.
“I was elated and really
excited,” said McCullough
about receiving the grant. “It’s
an incredible opportunity to
really bridge gaps in breast
cancer research that haven’t
really been done before…
I’m intrigued by how certain
groups rather by race, ethnicity
or geography may be at risk
for certain diseases over other
groups.”
Metastatic cancer─also
known as stage four cancer─is
the stage of cancer where
cancer moves from its
orgination point to another
organ in the body, according to
Stone.
Also, there is no cure
for metastatic cancer, only
treatments, according to Stone.
“There hasn’t been a lot
of research for metastatic
cancer,” said McCullough.
“Metastatic cancer doesn’t
have to be a death sentence
if we understood how
women transition from
initially having a stage one
breast cancer to 10 years
later developing metastatic
disease. If we understood what
was happening during that
transition period we might be
able to prevent that stage four
from happening later on.”
McCullough will use the
recent grant to expand research
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 7
she and her team have already
begun. McCullough’s research Early warning signs of breast cancer
looks at and researches breast
cancer disparities in Metro Symptoms of breast tumors vary from person to person.
Atlanta. The grant funds will Some common, early warning signs of breast cancer
help McCullough spread include:
research throughout Georgia • Skin changes, such as swelling, redness, or other visible
and improve the quality of differences in one or both breasts
research. • An increase in size or change in shape of the breast(s)
• Changes in the appearance of one or both nipples
“Breast cancer research is • Nipple discharge other than breast milk
important in general because • General pain in/on any part of the breast
it affects such a large number • Lumps or nodes felt on or inside of the breast
of women,” said McCullough.
“One in eight women will Symptoms more specific to invasive breast cancer are:
develop breast cancer in their • Irritated or itchy breasts
life. Disparities component is • Change in breast color
even more important because Emory professor receives grant to research breast • Increase in breast size or shape (over a short period of
cancer. Photo provided by the Dalton Agency. time)
Black women are less likely
to develop breast cancer but • Changes in touch (may feel hard, tender or warm)
twice as likely to die from grants through revenues received through • Peeling or flaking of the nipple skin
fundraising and donations. DeKalb • A breast lump or thickening
breast cancer. And that’s the • Redness or pitting of the breast skin (like the skin of an
statistic that really sticks with County’s Uniting DeKalb for a Cure 2019
5KRun/Walk benefits Komen Atlanta. The orange)
me… that’s something the Information from www.cancercenter.com
public may not always be Oct. 19 event will take place at Northlake
aware of.” Mall in Tucker─4800 Briarcliff Road NE.
“Metro Atlanta African
American women are 45
percent more likely to die
of breast cancer compared
to White counterparts. We
call that a disparity, a huge
disparity,” said Stone. “A
mission of Komen Atlanta is
to achieve health equality for
African-American women.”
On average, 42,000 people
die of breast cancer annually
and Metro Atlanta has the
highest disparity for African
American women concerning
breast cancer compared to the
rest of the country, according
to Stone.
“That’s 42,000 people too
many,” said Stone. “There
are still many people that
don’t understand their risk of
breast cancer… and they’re
diagnosed at stages that are
hard to treat.”
Stone, a breast cancer
survivor, said a goal of Susan
G. Komen is to reduce breast
cancer deaths 50 percent by
2026. “We could reduce breast
cancer [rates] by 40 percent
today if people would get
screened earlier,” said Stone.
Komen Atlanta provides
screening and diagnostics
treatment support services
for men and women who are
uninsured or underinsured.
“All you have to do is call us,”
said Stone.
Susan G. Komen funds
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 8

COUNTYWIDE

Sugar Creek coming back to life 

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
Horace@dekalbchamp.com
Sugar Creek Golf
Course and Tennis Center
was in disarray, for years.
The course had closed and
weeds and trees had overrun
the facility.
At one point, Sugar
Creek Golf Course was
a top-rated golf facility,
according to some DeKalb
County residents. DeKalb
County officials are now
trying to return the facility
to its previous luster.  events.
On Sept. 20, officials
with the DeKalb County
Department of Recreation,
Parks and Cultural Affairs
reopened the Sugar Creek
Golf Course’s driving
range, a major step forward
in the renovation process
according to Chuck Ellis,
DeKalb County Department
of Recreation, Parks and
Cultural Affairs executive
director.  costs, including a negative
“This course has been
closed since June of 2017.
The course had major
overgrowth; trees needed
to be repaired. It’s been a
major, major repair on this
place,” Ellis said.  adjusting for driving range
While the 18-hole
golf course is scheduled
to reopen in October,
according to DeKalb
officials, the driving range
and tennis courts are
currently open to the public.
DeKalb officials said the
county also plans to open a
full-service restaurant at the
facility and a community
building to host meetings or
It may be a while before
the course starts to make
a profit, according to a
study from the National
Golf Foundation (NFG).
The foundation conducted
a study of Sugar Creek
and determined the facility
could lose approximately
$3 million in the next five
years based on projected
revenue and maintenance
operating income of
$692,000 in the first year.  for DeKalb County,
The report projected
the golf course would earn
approximately $370,000
in revenue its first year,
fees, food/beverages, golf
merchandise sales and
golfing fees. NGF projects
the course would gain
approximately $706,000 in
total revenue by 2023.
Ellis said Special
Purpose Local Option Sales
Tax proceeds will help
defray the costs of operating
the course.
Sugar Creek Golf and DeKalb County crews removed debris, cut trees and mowed greens at Sugar Creek
Tennis Center officials Golf Course and Tennis Center.
said they plan to charge
golfers lower fees than operations at Sugar Creek. business.”
those charged by local Flaherty said the challenge Flaherty said the course
competitors. The study from is letting the public know will be challenging and
NFG determined there are the course will soon be open could become one of the
approximately 200,000 for business. premier courses in the area.
golfers in close proximity “If you looked at the “It was a lot of work
of Sugar Creek who golf at course a year ago, it was to bring it back, but I’m
other courses. weed infested and you excited about getting Sugar
“We know the golfers couldn’t play on the greens. Creek back open. It is going
are here, we just hope to If you come to the course to be a challenging course,”
attract them,” Ellis said.  today, it’s going to play Flaherty said. “We will
David Flaherty, very well. It looks great,” be ready for people here
recreation division manager Flaherty said. “Our biggest shortly. It has been a night-
challenge is letting people and-day transformation.” 
will oversee golf course know it’s back open for

STONECREST

Stonecrest to purchase former Sears building at mall

BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The former Sears building at
The Mall at Stonecrest will be
Stonecrest’s new public safety
building.
The city announced Oct. 4
that the city council approved to
purchase the building during an
Oct. 3 special-called meeting. City
officials said the plan is to share the
future public safety building with
DeKalb County Police Department.
In a press release, Stonecrest Mayor
Jason Lary said the city has been
working on the purchase for two
months.
“I am so elated that we got it
done,” Lary said. “Public safety has
been our number one priority and
now we will have our own facility.
Stonecrest city council approved the purchase of the former Sears building at The Mall at Stonecrest
with plans to use it as a public safety building. Photo by Carla Parker
Our plan is to combine our forces
with DeKalb County so we can
properly cover the Stonecrest area.”
The purchase will be funded
by the city’s special purpose
local option sales tax (SPLOST)
and includes two buildings—the
142,000-square-foot former Sears
building and what had been its
15,000-square-foot tire and battery
center.
The city council approved
sending $105,000 in earnest money
to Sears for purchase of the building
and start the 60-day due diligence
process. Lary said Robert Scott
with T. Dallas Smith & Company,
a commercial real estate brokerage
firm, is handling the transaction on
behalf of the city and sent the funds
Oct. 4.
Officials said the city will
do the appraisal, inspections and
testing. Scott said in a press release
that he didn’t expect any problems
since the building was so recently
occupied by Sears.
“If we find any deficiencies, we
will note it,” Scott said.
Lary said the city expects the
police precinct to be opened by the
second quarter of next year.
 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

The sidewalk on the west side of Roberts Drive is complete. According to

the city of Dunwoody, the sidewalk will close periodically for backfilling
and decorative stone placement. Photo provided by city of Dunwoody Members of the Dunwoody community development and finance teams wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month an to honor Donica
Twitter page. Williams, center, who beat breast cancer last year. Photo provided by city of Dunwoody Twitter page.

DeKalb County Police officers hula hoop during a National Night Out event.

DeKalb County purchased seven new ambulances to improve EMS response times. DeKalb County Police Department’s Tucker Precinct participated in a National Night Out
event.

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
STONE MOUNTAIN
Broadway stars visit a DeKalb County school Sept. 25 to give acting advice. Photos by Taylor Robins
Broadway comes to local school
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Broadway stars
brought the show to
students of DeKalb
Academy of Technology
and Environment (DATE),
located in Stone Mountain,
Sept. 25.
Jim Young and Jennifer
Malenke, cast members
from Roald Dahl’s Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory
gave advice and acting
tips to the school’s drama
department and fifth grade
students.
“This is a future of this
country and from the sight
of it. We’re in pretty good
hands. It amazes me the
questions these guys ask,
they’ll stump you every
time,” said Young.
“It’s so important to
let kids know that theater
or being an actor isn’t all
about fame,” said Malenke.
“It’s about connecting with
people.”
The students asked
the actors questions about
their acting backgrounds,
how they made it into the
business, how they like
acting, how to remember
lines and the pros and cons
of acting. The actors also
gave tips on how to turn
stage freight and nervousness
into excitement.
“Other schools don’t get
this opportunity,” said DATE
student Aissatou Dialoo.
“Getting this opportunity
makes me really happy.”
Dialoo wants to be
a dentist; however, she
Jim Young, left, and Jennifer Malenke, right, perform a scene from Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory.
A student performs a song for Broadway actors.
participates in the drama
department because she
enjoys being in the spotlight.
Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory came to
Atlanta’s Fox Theatre Sept.
24-29, 2019. Some students
from the drama department
attended opening night
performance Sept. 24.
The Broadway
professionals’ visit came
just in time, as DATE was
auditioning for its school
spring play, High School
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 10
Musical.
“It’s really exciting to
have them here because I
got the lead role as Gabriella
in the show,” said DATE
student Kaitlen Tramble.
“It’s good to get some advice
before the show, so I know
what to do.”
Tramble said the best
advice she received from
the actors was to stretch
and “get in the zone” before
performing.
COUNTYWIDE
DCSD announces graduation
dates and locations
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) recently announced
its high school graduation schedule for the 2019-2020 school
year.
Graduation ceremonies for the 2018-2019 school year
took place at the Georgia World Congress Center May 28-June
2, a location outside of the county and later than usual dates
compared to past graduations.
Families and community members were concerned that
last school year’s graduation dates would conflict with already
scheduled summer and vacation plans.
Graduation ceremonies for the 2017-2018 school year were
held at the same location, but were one week earlier than the
2018-2019 dates.
Graduations for the 2019-2020 school year will be May 18-
23 at the Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young
International Boulevard NW in downtown Atlanta.
Thursday, May 14, 2020: 
• Margaret Harris Comprehensive 10 a.m. at the school*
Monday, May 18, 2020:
• Cross Keys High School 9 a.m.
• Arabia Mountain High School 1 p.m.
• Miller Grove High School 5 p.m.
• Chamblee Charter High School 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020:
• Stephenson High School 9 a.m.
• Clarkston High School 1 p.m.
• Redan High School 5 p.m.
• Dunwoody High School 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020:
• Martin Luther King, Jr. High School 9 a.m.
• Cedar Grove High School 1 p.m.
• Lithonia High School 5 p.m.
• Stone Mountain High School 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 21, 2020:
• Elizabeth Andrews High School 9 a.m.
• McNair High School 1 p.m.
• Columbia High School 5 p.m.
• DeKalb School of the Arts 8 p.m.
Friday, May 22, 2020: 
• Southwest DeKalb High School 9 a.m.
• Druid Hills. High School 1 p.m.
• Tapestry Charter School 5 p.m.
• Lakeside High School 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 23, 2020: 
• Towers High School 9 a.m.
• Tucker High School 1 p.m.
• DeKalb Early College Academy 5 p.m.
EDUCATION
DECATUR
Agnes Scott recognized for innovative instruction
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Agnes Scott College
officials announced that for
the second consecutive year,
the college has been ranked
number one in the country
among national liberal
arts colleges on the Most
Innovative Schools list in U.S.
News and World Report’s 2020
edition of Best Colleges.
Agnes Scott was also
ranked number one for first-
year experiences among
colleges and universities in
the country by U.S. News and
World Report.
“We are extremely excited
and proud to again be named
the No. 1 Most Innovative
School. With its focus on
global learning and leadership
development, SUMMIT
has redefined a liberal arts
education, offering students a
EDUCATION BRIEFS
UNG students complete
fall 2019 FROG Week
Approximately 190
students transitioned from
being civilians to cadets
at Freshman Orientation
Group (FROG) Week at
the University of North
Georgia (UNG) Aug. 11-
17.
Area students recently
enrolled at UNG include
Jaden Harrison and
Marty Smith of Decatur
and Stephen Lee of Stone
Mountain.
Lehigh University
welcomes class of 2023
Lehigh University
officially welcomed the
Class of 2023. Dean
Colton of Brookhaven is
included in the group of
freshmen.
Local students named to
the adult and graduate
studies program dean’s
list
Eugene Pigues of
Stone Mountain was
named to the dean’s list at
Ohio Christian University
Adult & Graduate Studies
Agnes Scott receives most Innovative title for second year. File Photo
unique academic experience
that sets them on the path of
success in their careers and in
the world,” said Agnes Scott
College President Leocadia
Zak. “SUMMIT has been
by Taylor Robins • Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Program for the fall 2018
semester.
Klein graduates, included
on dean’s list
More than 330
Lawrence University
graduates received
diplomas in a summer
commencement ceremony. of Tucker is participating
Among the graduates was in Belmont University’s
Benjamin Klein of Stone Towering Traditions
Mountain. Klein was
also among the Lawrence
students earning dean’s list
recognition for the 2018-19
academic year.
Nursing award given to
Georgia State University
students
The Byrdine F. Lewis
College of Nursing and
Health Professions at
Georgia State University
has awarded Terri Cowan
and Christine Peverini of
Decatur with the Nursing
Student Leadership Award.
The award recognizes
students who have
demonstrated initiative,
motivation, dedication and
commitment to a Georgia
State nursing student
program or organization
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 11
experience in the fall and
travels abroad for a weeklong
course of study in the spring.
“Before I came to Agnes
Scott, I was timid and kept to
myself,” said Ciara Thomas,
a SUMMIT participant and
Agnes Scott student. “This
changed tremendously while
I was on my Journeys trip in
Trinidad. Thanks to SUMMIT,
the Trinidadian women I met
helped me find the fire I never
knew I had. Unbeknownst
to me, it would lead to the
founding of PathMakers, which
is an interdepartmental support
system at Agnes Scott dedicated
to first-generation college
students.”
U.S. News describes
truly transformative for Agnes signature experience that innovative schools as “schools
Scott and its students. We are prepares students to be that the public should be
proud to be recognized as one leaders in society. As part watching because of the
of the premier educational of SUMMIT, each first- cutting-edge changes being
institutions in the country.” year student has a five- made on campuses.”
SUMMIT is the college’s day leadership immersion
NOTICE OF
NONDISCRIMINATORY
POLICY AS TO
and who demonstrate orientation program as new STUDENTS
leadership abilities within students do at the school. Intown Community School
admits students of any
and outside of Georgia During the Towering race, color, national or
State University. Traditions orientation ethnic origin to all rights,
privileges, programs,
program, new students and activities generally
Belmont sends spend an afternoon accorded or made available
to students at the school.
Majchrzak into Nashville traveling to 50 locations It does not discriminate
for service across the greater on the basis of race,
color, national or ethnic
Nashville area for service. origin in administration of
Hannah Majchrzak The event, called SERVE, its educational policies,
admissions policies,
allows students to immerse scholarship programs, and
themselves in their new athletic and other school
hometown. administered programs.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Public Hearing on the DeKalb County 2019-2023
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
On November 6, 2019 the DeKalb County Community Development Depart-
Com Dev
ment will host a public hearing on the 2019-2023 Analysis of Impediments to
Fair Housing Choice in DeKalb. The draft document can be viewed beginning
October 10th at the DeKalb County Community Development website; https://
www.dekalbcountyga.gov/community-development/consolidated-plans. For
more information, please join us at the meeting or call (404) 371-2727.
Public Hearing
The DeKalb County Community Development Department
is conducting a Public Hearing.
Date/Time
Wednesday, November 6 at 6:00 PM
Meeting to Review the Draft Analysis of Impediments to
Fair Housing Choice
Maloof Auditorium
1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA
We will present the Draft 2019-2023 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing
Choice and solicit public questions and/or comments.
 THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10 - 16, 2019 • Page 12

COUNTYWIDE
Landfill Amnesty Day announced
DeKalb County residents will
have an opportunity to dispose of
bulky and special collection items
and bagged garbage free of charge
at the Seminole Road Landfill─4203
Clevemont Road in Ellenwood.
The third annual Landfill
Amnesty Day will be held Oct. 19
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Proof of residency is required for
this event.
Household hazardous waste
recycling available
The DeKalb County Sanitation
Division will host a household
hazardous waste recycling event
Oct. 12, from 8 a.m. – noon, at
the Sanitation Division’s Central
Transfer Station, 3720 Leroy Scott
Drive in Decatur.
The event offers county
residents an opportunity to dispose
of dangerous household items that
are no longer in use.
Hazardous materials such as
aerosols, batteries, adhesives,
AROUND DeKalb
flammables, lawn care products,
fluorescent light bulbs, photo
chemicals, paint, paint-related
products and artist supplies will be
accepted. Paint will be limited to 10
gallons per vehicle.
Waste such as ammunition,
radioactive materials,
pharmaceuticals, biohazardous
and biomedical waste will not be
accepted.
Participation is free and open
only to DeKalb County residents.
Proof of residency may be
requested.
For more information, contact
the Sanitation Division’s customer
service team at (404) 294-2900 or
sanitation@dekalbcountyga.gov.
DUNWOODY
Volunteers sought to improve
parks
The Dunwoody community is
invited to come together and give
back during Volunteer Day Oct. 12
from 9 a.m. to noon. Trees Atlanta
and Painting with a Twist are
partnering with Dunwoody Parks &
Recreation on projects that involve
planting trees and painting rocks.
Volunteers should register in
advance using this link: https://
secure.rec1.com/GA/dunwoody-
ga/catalog. Walk-up registration is
also available on the morning of the
event, October 12. Volunteers are
asked to check in near the Veterans
Memorial building across from the
Brook Run Park playground.
Volunteer Day is family-friendly
and includes activities that are
appropriate for all ages. Volunteers
are encouraged to bring outdoor or
work gloves
STONECREST
Jobs bus to stop at library
The Mobile Career Center
will be at Stonecrest Library Oct.
24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center
provides services such as job search
assistance, resume writing and
interviewing tips. The library is
located at 3123 Klondike Road. For
more information, call (770) 482-
3828.
STONE MOUNTAIN
City to host music event
Jimmy T Harris & Friends will
perform Oct. 18 at Stone Mountain’s
Tunes by the Tracks event in the
municipal parking lot. Attendees can
bring lawn chairs. The free two-hour
concert begins at 7 p.m. Beer, wine
and soft drinks will be available for
purchase. For more information, visit
www.stonemountaincity.org.
TUCKER
School to host fall festival
Brockett Elementary School
will host a fall festival Oct. 19, 1
to 5 p.m. The festival will feature
outdoor games, a bouncy house arts
and crafts, food and a silent auction.
The school is located at 1855
Brockett Road.

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based on color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status.
BUSINESS
Cybersecurity company guards against high-tech crime
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
A generation ago people
worried about thieves
coming through a window
or a back door. Today,
they have more reason to
worry about intruders who
enter through a computer, a
smart phone or some other
electronic device, according
to Christopher McDougal
of Ransom Shield, which
describes itself as “a small
Decatur start-up that does
cybersecurity education and
prevention, particularly in
the context of ransomware.”
Such terms as
“ransomware” and
“malware” are relatively
new to the worldwide
lexicon. They describe
unfriendly software
designed to capture or
destroy a computer’s data.
Using ransomware,
cyber thieves kidnap an
institution’s data and hold
it for ransom—either
threatening to publish
sensitive information or
withhold information a
business or institution
needs to operate—often
demanding millions of
dollars to return the data.
Malware (a truncation of
malicious ware) is a more
general term for destructive
software stealthily
introduced onto another’s
computer. “The person
may not even want money.
He may just want the
notoriety of being known as
someone who can do this,”
McDougal said.
Approximately a
year old, Ransom Shield
is hosting educational
community events to help
businesses and individuals
avoid having their online
information compromised.
At the first of these events,
held Oct. 1 at Decatur
Recreation Center,
McDougal provided tips for
protecting against online
GOT A NEWS TIP?
We’d love to hear from you.
404.373.7779
theft or vandalism.
“A strong password
is your first line of
defense,” McDougal
said. “If your password is
‘password1234,’ you’re
going to be hacked.” He
said a strong password
should be a random string
of letters, numbers and
symbols. “Hackers use
programs to try to figure out
passwords. Any series of
numbers or full words will
be easier to figure out than
a random sequence. Like all
thieves, hackers first go for
the low hanging fruit.”
He also cautioned
against using the same
password for every
application. “You don’t
want the thief who gets the
password for one credit
card to have access to all
your credit cards and your
bank account,” McDougal
said.
Clicking on pages or
toolbars that pop up on
a computer or phone out
of nowhere or that come
as emails from unknown
senders often is how
victims allow malware
to get into their systems,
he said. “It may offer
something enticing such
as free games, movies or
music to draw you in.”
Children and teens may
be especially susceptible,
McDougal said. “Their
critical thinking skills aren’t
as developed, and they may
not pause the think about
what might be behind a
free offer. They love online
entertainment and probably
don’t have much money to
spend on it, so an offer of
something free may be very
tempting.”
Staying aware of
children’s or teens’ online
activity not only helps
safeguard the computer
from vandalism, but also
helps prevent cyberbullying
and fraud, McDougal said.
Children’s Online Privacy
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 13
Protection Act makes it
illegal for companies to
collect information from
children younger than 13
without parental consent.
“It’s a good law, but hackers
are constantly finding ways
to circumvent the law,” he
said. “There is software that
can limit children’s access
to the internet, but none of
it is perfect. There is no one
magic piece of software
a parent can install to
provide their children with
100 percent online safety.
Parental vigilance is key.”
McDougal also
reminded consumers to be
sure before selling or giving
away a computer, phone or
car to clear the devise of any
authentication information
that provides access to
sensitive data.
Businesses and
institutions should be
vigilant in avoiding falling
victim to ransomware, said
McDougal, adding that
approximately 50 percent Christopher McDougal offers information on protecting personal and business
of large and mid-sized computers at a community event at the Decatur Recreation Center.
companies have been the
victims of cyberattacks.
and back-up key systems. causing an operational
“Even the city of Atlanta Monitoring tools can detect bottleneck,” McDougal
was attacked and had to
unusual file access activities advised.
spend more than $5 million and viruses, possibly Just as conventional
getting back to normal,” he
blocking ransomware from crimes of theft or vandalism
said. Hundreds or thousands activating. Keeping a full should be reported to law
of U.S. small businesses
copy of crucial systems can enforcement, so should
also are at risk, he added. reduce the risk of a crashed crimes committed through
“Business should
or encrypted machine internet systems, he said.
monitor their computers
CITY OF BROOKHAVEN FY 2020 BUDGET REVIEW,
PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND ADOPTION
The proposed FY 2020 City of Brookhaven Budget will be presented to Mayor and
Council by the City Manager on October 22, 2019 at the regularly scheduled Council
Meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. The City of Brookhaven will hold a public hearing on
the proposed FY 2020 Budget at the regularly scheduled Council Meeting on Tuesday,
November 12, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Another public hearing will be held during the City
Council meeting on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Following the public
hearing on November 26, 2019, the City Council will vote to adopt the FY 2020 Budget.
The FY 2020 Budget will be available for public inspection at City Hall, 4362 Peachtree
Road, and on the website www.brookhavenga.gov October 22, 2020.
Did you know?
Underage drinking
is a leading
contributor
to death from
injuries, which is
the main cause of
death for people
under the age of
21.
For more information, call (770) 285-6037, E-mail: beyondthebell@comcast.net
or visit beyondthebellkids.org
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Four-star recruit
Kamar Wilcoxson
ruled ineligible
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Another DeKalb County
high school football player
has been ruled a migrant
student and ineligible to
play the remainder of the
2019 season.
Stephenson High School
junior Kamar Wilcoxson
has been declared ineligible
CROSS COUNTRY
Clarkston boys, Lakeside girls win county cross-country titles
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The Clarkston Angoras
and the Lakeside Lady
Vikings cross-country teams
are county champions once
again.
Clarkston won its fourth
DeKalb County boys’ cross-
country championship
in program history and
Lakeside won its 18th
girls’ cross-country title in
program history at the 58th
annual DeKalb County
School District Cross-
Country Championships
Oct. 1 at Druid Hills Middle
School. Clarkston won the
title 57-62 over Druid Hills.
Tucker finished third with
92 points and last year’s
champions, Lakeside,
finished fourth with 96
points.
Clarkston junior
Thaddee Barge led his team
with a second overall finish
in the individual standings,
crossing the finish line at
17:21.60. Clarkston’s other
top 10 finisher was junior
Firomsa Ibrahim, who
finished in seventh place
(18:05.60).
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 14
by the Georgia High School
Association (GHSA),
according to DeKalb County
School District’s athletics
department spokesman
Mark Brock. Wilcoxson
transferred to Cedar Stephenson High School junior Kamar Wilcoxson was declared ineligible to play football the rest of the season by the Georgia High
Grove High School from School Association. Photo by Carla Parker
Stephenson near the end
Brock said GHSA further investigation and student is one who transfers
of or after last school year.
originally ruled him eligible ruled Wilcoxson a migrant into a GHSA school without
He then transferred back to
before the season but student. According to GHSA a “bona fide move”—
Stephenson before the start
reversed on its decision after by-law 1.63, a migrant meaning the student, along
of this school year.
See Kamar on Page 15
Lakeside senior Mikias
Mekonen took home the
individual title after crossing
the finish line first at
17:03.90. Tucker freshman
Zinabu Marcos finished
third overall at 17:23.50
and his teammate, senior
Yesahk Ergano, finished in
fifth place (17:50.90). Druid
Hills also had two runners to
finish in the top 10—seniors
Mike Rosenbluth (fourth;
17:31.70) and Siddhartha
Narker (sixth; 17:55.90). Lakeside won its 18th DeKalb County girls’ cross-country title in program history.
Chamblee junior
Diego DeAlba (18:21.20),
Southwest DeKalb senior
Jalen Bristol (18:21.90)
and Towers freshman
Emmanuel Clement
rounded out the top 10
finishers in the boys’ race
placing at eighth, ninth and
10th, respectively.
The Lakeside Lady
Vikings won the girls’ title
with a 33-37 victory over Clarkston won its fourth DeKalb County boys’ cross-country championship in program history. Photos by Mark Brock
runner-up Dunwoody. Druid
Hills finished third with 59 the finish line at 20:45.00. Druid Hills sophomore senior Anna Mothner
points, Chamblee finished Lakeside freshman Haley Sophia Shepherd finished (third; 21:02.80), sophomore
fourth with 125 points and Davis finished fifth overall second overall at 20:50.70 Kate Bacon (fourth;
Clarkston finished fifth with (21:16.40), sophomore and her teammate, senior 21:03.20), junior Emma
129 points. Abigail McHoul finished Genevieve Ferrara, finished Tessler (ninth; 21:55.30) and
Lakeside freshman sixth (21:36.80) and senior seventh overall (21:38.60). sophomore Lucy Neumann
Ellia Skelton won the Sydney DeWoody finished Dunwoody had four runners (10th; 22:31.60).
individual title after crossing eighth (21:42.80). to finish in the top 10—
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 15

FOOTBALL

Stephenson dominates MLK in regional game

BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com

The Stephenson Jaguars (4-1)

handed region rival No. 10-ranked M.L.
King Lions (4-1) their first loss of the
season after a 35-0 win.
The Jaguars’ rushing attack was the
story of the game as all of Stephenson’s
touchdowns came on the ground. Senior
running backs Ryan Ingram and
Deondre Jackson each had two rushing
touchdowns and junior Quashaun
Johnson had a 52-yard rushing
touchdown.
Down 14-0 in the second quarter,
the Lions were in scoring position
before a bad snap over quarterback
Jacobi Haynes led to a fumble recovery
by Stephenson. During the scramble,
Haynes was injured and was ruled out
for the rest of the game.
M.L. King will host Lovejoy Oct.
11 at Godfrey Stadium at 8 p.m., and
Stephenson will host Forest Park at
Hallford Stadium at 8 p.m.

Other football scores

Oct. 4 Stephenson running back Deondre Jackson flips into the end zone for a touchdown. Photos by Carla Parker
Cedar Grove (4-2) 57, Redan (3-3) 0
Marist (6-0) 56, Chestatee (1-5) 13
Tucker (4-2) 23, Lovejoy (4-2) 16
Central Gwinnett (1-5) 48, Lakeside (0-6) 0
Lovett (4-2) 54, Towers (2-4) 14
Pope (4-2) 45, Dunwoody (2-3) 27
Pace Academy (4-1) 27, Stone Mountain (1-4) 20
Pataula Charter (2-4) 25, Cross Keys (0-7) 9
Riverwood (6-0) 21, Decatur (4-2) 16
Woodward (5-0) 44, Druid Hills (2-3) 3

Oct. 5
Arabia Mountain (1-5) 8, Miller Grove (0-5) 1
Columbia (1-5) 40, Lithonia (1-5) 21
Southwest DeKalb (5-1) 47, Chamblee (0-5) 7
Washington (2-4) 72, McNair (0-6) 6

Open: Clarkston (0-6), St. Pius X (3-3)

M.L. King quarterback Jacobi Haynes avoids a tackles and rush for more
Stephenson running back Deondre Jackson makes a cut to run for extra yardage. yards.

KAMAR Continued From Page 14

with his or her parent or guardian—
moved to another school service
area.
A migrant student may practice
or compete at the sub-varsity level
but may not compete at the varsity
level for one calendar year from
the date of their entry into the new
school, according to the by-law.
In the event that, after transfer,
a student becomes, or is later
determined to be, a migrant student,
then the student shall be ineligible
to compete at the varsity level for
one calendar year from that date,
according to the by-law.
Wilcoxson played in two games
for Stephenson before the ruling
was made, however, Stephenson
did not have to forfeit those games
due to GHSA’s first ruling on
Wilcoxson’s eligibility. He had
20 total tackles in those games,
including five tackles for a loss, two
sacks and six quarterback hits.
This news comes weeks after
Columbia and Lithonia high schools
had to forfeit games already played
this season due to playing players
ruled ineligible. GHSA Director of
Media Relations Steve Figueroa
said Sept. 25 that Lithonia played
one player who was ineligible for
being a migrant student, while
Columbia had three players who
were ruled ineligible for undue
influence and migrant status.
Wilcoxson, a four-star recruit
and University of Florida commit,
was expected to be a big contributor
to Stephenson’s defense this season.
Last season, he had 24 tackles and
two interceptions, and he rushed for
224 yards on 26 attempts and scored
two touchdowns on offense.
LOCAL
YMCA Continued From Page 3
around and talk to people,
{I realize] south DeKalb
doesn’t have viable places
for teens and young people
to do what they really want
to do, which is hang out.
“There is a major need
for teen programing or
locations for teens to go
hang out and participate in
programs, especially our
middle schoolers.” Winston
added. “So, early learning is
definitely one of the things
that drive us and one of the
things we would like to see
as we move forward.”
Winston said if South
DeKalb Family YMCA gets
the funding it needs to create
more programs for youth and
provide more scholarships,
“this YMCA will be
something totally unheard of
in south DeKalb.”
“The primary focus
would be on youth
development. I’m talking
about taking this footprint
and adding eight to 10
early learning classrooms
on the YMCA property,”
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 • Page 16
he said. “We would have
an intergenerational center,
which would be a center
that could be shared with
our seniors and our teens.
Also, a place for our adults
to have their time because if
[we] have babies and seniors
[we’re] going to have parents
of the babies and children of
the seniors to drive them. I
envision seeing this YMCA
in five years as a one-stop
shop, but with a lot of focus
on youth development and
how we serve our young
people.”
Crawford said the
South DeKalb branch
must be preserved because
it’s uniquely tailored to
understand the needs of the
community.
“We must make sure that
this branch stays around for
decades to come, for people
like me who benefited from
it,” Crawford said. “I want
the students who comes
behind me to have those
same benefits and have better
THIS COULD BE YOUR AD!
facilities.” Call 404.373.7779 Ext 110 for more information.