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DeKalb State house honors boy who saved library
School
candidates
face tough
questions
by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
The DeKalb County School
System’s three superintendent
candidates fielded tough ques-
tions about their qualifications
to run Georgia’s third-largest
school district at a public forum
on March 31.
Each candidate was given 50
minutes to make a brief introduc-
tion and then answer questions
submitted by community mem-
bers.
All three candidates come
from districts with fewer than
10,000 students, compared to
99,000 in the county system.
Lillie Cox, superintendent of
Hickory Public Schools in North
Carolina and Arthur Culver,
superintendent of Champaign
Public Schools in Illinois, both
said that their previous experi-
ence working with larger dis-
tricts made them comfortable
with DeKalb’s size.
“I do come from a smaller
system, but fortunately I’ve had
the opportunity to work at the
senior staff level of a very large
system of 73,000—not quite
as big as yours. However, I do
understand the dynamics that
happen at that level,” Cox said
of her previous work with the
Guilford County School System
in North Carolina.
Culver cited his experience
teaching in the Houston Indepen-
dent School District with more
than 200,000 kids and his work
as an area superintendent in Fort
Bend as an asset.
“That’s really not a prob-
lem for me because, again, I’ve
been in a large system,” he said.
“Also, [I’ve been] an area su-
perintendent in a district with
56,000 kids; that’s not a small
system. I was engaged at the
administrative level and I was
involved in the community, so I
know how that functions.”
Gloria Davis, the only can-
didate without any experience
in such a large district, said that
similar problems arise in districts
both large and small and the
changes DeKalb needs have to
be made quickly and thoroughly.
“I often say, ‘If you work
with me you need two pairs of
roller-skates, one on your feet
See Candidates on Page 13A
Twelve-year-old Sekondi Landry holds a
resolution that credits him with keeping his
neighborhood library open. He is joined by
(left to right) Rep. Stephanie Benfield; his
friend Summer Williams; his grandmother
Rosetta Jones; and his great grandfather
Nathan Knight. Photo by Ben Scarborough
Lights outs
Hundreds of people wait for their day in court,
or at least near it, after a storm caused a power
outage at the DeKalb County Recorder’s Court
on April 5. Officials decided to conduct business
outside the building, giving a new meaning to
courtyard. At right, a folding table acted as the
judge’s bench for Chief Judge Nelly Withers of
the DeKalb County Recorders Court. Photos by
Andrew Cauthen
• A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS •
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
W
hen 12-year-old Sekondi
Landry found out that his
neighborhood library was
closing because of county
budget cuts, he began a campaign to keep
it open.
Visiting the houses surrounding the
library, Landry collected 107 signatures and
subsequently became the face of a grass-
roots movement to save the library he visits
nearly every day.
Flanked by his great grandfather and
friends, Landry, 12, was honored by mem-
bers of the Georgia House of Representa-
tives on March 30. After viewing a televi-
sion news clip on his work to keep the Scott
Candler Library open, the house members
gave Landry a standing ovation.
“He saved his local library,” said Rep.
Stephanie Benfield to the house members.
“He’s very ambitious. He may sit in one of
these seats one day.”
In fact, Landry is planning to enter pol-
itics when he is older. Ultimately, he would
like to be a member of the U. S. House of
Representatives. Landry, who is home-
schooled, also wants to go to Harvard Uni-
versity for his bachelors degree and then to
Yale University for his masters.
“That way I can go to both,” Landry
said.
Scott Candler Library was set to close
on April 1 in an effort to save money as part
of the DeKalb County Board of Commis-
sioners’ mandate to cut 8.9 percent from
most departmental budgets. The board
voted in February to cut $33.64 million
from the chief executive officer’s proposed
budget to avoid a tax increase.
But Landry’s efforts led to a special
meeting on March 21 of the DeKalb
County Public Library Board of Trustees,
which voted to keep the Scott Candler Li-
brary open on a reduced schedule, at least
through June 30.
In addition to the signatures, Landry
attended a public meeting and a community
rally for the library.
“It’s pretty cool that they kept it open,”
Landry said.
In a statement Acting Library Director
Alison Weissinger said the library board
will continue to watch the budget and the
staffing situation closely to determine if
the Scott Candler Library can remain open
after June 30.
A new Scott Candler Library facility
is under construction and is expected to be
completed by the end of this year.
And Landry will be keeping his eye on
the decisions of library board regarding his
library. In fact, he has begun writing librar-
ies all over Georgia to urge them to stay
open for the children who need them.
Landry’s actions caught the attention of
Rep. Tyrone Brooks, who represents parts
of Douglas and Fulton counties. Brooks
asked him to lead an annual march on April
2 that commemorates the assassination of
Martin Luther King Jr. The march to
Moore’s Ford Bridge in Walton County
also highlights the unsolved lynching of
four blacks at the bridge on July 25, 1946.
“I’m proud of him,” said Landry’s
great grandfather Nathan Knight. “But
I’m proud of him everyday. A lot of chil-
dren do a lot of positive things. They just
don’t get credit for them.”
This is not the first time Landry has
taken up a cause. When he attended his old
school, Annistown Elementary in Snell-
ville, he once protested against a change in
the lunch schedule.
“The lunch was 15 minutes,” Landry
said. “No one had time to eat.”
A

NEWS The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011 Page 2A

City manager referendum looming in Doraville

by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
Doraville residents will
soon be able to vote to
change their form of gov-
ernment if Gov. Nathan
Deal signs a bill that passed
the Georgia House and Sen-
ate recently.
HB 544, sponsored by
District 81 Rep. Elena
Parent, allows for a refer-
endum to be placed on the
ballot in Doraville in No-
vember. This would allow
residents to vote on making
the office of mayor a part-
time position and creating
a city manager-led govern-
ment.
Doraville had a city
manager-run govern-
ment until 1982 when it
was changed to its current
system. The possibility of
reinstituting a city manager
form of government has
been a hot topic in the com-
munity for years.
“This was brought to me
after a unanimous resolu-
tion by the city council,
asking me to adopt a bill,”
Parent said, whose district
includes Doraville. “In a
city manager, you will get
someone who is a true pro-
fessional when it comes to
managerial functions.”
If the bill is signed and
the referendum passes, the
office of mayor will remain
a full-time position until
Jan. 1, 2014. That will al-
low the city enough time
to search for and hire a city
manager. The city manager
would begin his or her term
at that time and the mayor
would then become a part-
time position, Parent said.
City councilwoman
Donna Pittman has been
serving as acting mayor
since mayor Ray Jenkins
died Feb. 2. A special elec-
tion will be held June 21 to
determine who will finish
out Jenkins’ term, which
will end Dec. 31, 2011.
Another mayoral elec-
tion will be held in Novem-
ber for the four-year term
beginning 2012.
“It’s very important that
the citizens of Doraville are
the ones to make the deci-
sion about the city manager
position,” Pittman said.
“With a city manager the
city will run more like a
business. That person will
handle the day to day busi-
ness of the city. It will free
up the mayor to do more
marketing of the city.”
Both Pittman and coun-
cilwoman Maria Alex-
ander acknowledged that
many cities are moving
away from the mayoral
form of government and
that a change is something
the residents should have a
chance to consider.
“We need to have a
detailed job description in
place so when voters go to
the polls in November they
will know exactly what they
are voting for and what the
job description is,” Alexan-
der said.

DeKalb County Schools and Heery submit mediators

by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
The DeKalb County
School System and Heery/
Mitchell submitted their
candidates for mediation
on April 4, and argued over
whether to add 12 additional
names to the list of defen-
dants in connection with the
ongoing lawsuit.
The school system named
George Reid, a Georgia
based mediator who special-
izes in complex construction
disputes, as a possible media-
tor.
Heery recommended
Leah Ward Sears and Nor-
man Fletcher, former Geor-
gia Supreme Court chief jus-
tices, Stanley Birch, a retired
11th Circuit U.S. Court of
Appeals judge, and Jonathan
Marks, who mediated the
case in July 2009.
Judge Clarence Seeliger
discarded both Reid and
Fletcher because he wanted
to make sure that any media-
tor chosen, “[had] no direct
contact with [either] side in
the case,” and both of them
had contact in one way or an-
other with the plaintiffs or the
defendants.
Heery also filed a motion
attempting to have King and
Spalding, the firm represent-
ing the school system, dis-
qualified due to allegations
that the firm has a conflict of
interest.
However, the motion
relied on testimony from for-
mer Superintendent Craw-
ford Lewis, who is now be-
ing represented by Rep. Ed
Lindsey (R-Atlanta). Since
Lindsey is a legislator he had
the option to postpone any
testimony on behalf of his
client for up to three weeks
after the legislative session
has ended, which he chose to
do.
According to David Rub-
inger, a spokesperson for
Heery International, Seeliger
has requested that Rep. Lind-
sey let him know the soonest
possible date he is available,
which is expected to be in
late May.
The judge also ruled in
favor of King and Spalding
adding 12 names to the list
of defendants who, the firm
claims, are either active par-
ticipants in the alleged fraud
or individuals in executive
positions who knew of the
activity.
School attorney Ray Per-
sons claimed that high rank-
ing executives at Heery were
warned that what they were
doing was illegal unless they
had written consent from the
school board.
“They are the ones who
received the fruits of this
fraud and they are answer-
able in these proceedings,”
Persons said of the 12 indi-
viduals.
Heery said that the indi-
viduals who were added were
being sued merely because
of their position in the com-
pany and that none of their
activities, at the executive
or management levels, were
fraudulent.
“There is not the requisite
level of specificity to call
these individuals crooks,”
said Paul Monnin, a lawyer
for Heery International. “It’s
not enough, judge, to simply
say Heery, as an entity, [en-
gaged] in fraudulent conduct, and contends that the real be able to testify with full
therefore, so [did these indi- reason the company was disclosure.
viduals].” fired was because then Chief “In all honesty and truth,
Heery managed the school Operations Officer Pat Pope two of the three witnesses
SPLOST account from 2002- wanted to award the con- in this case can’t testify…
06. In 2006 the school sys- tracts to people that she knew we need them to waive their
tem terminated the company, and had connections with. Fifth Amendment rights be-
citing overbilling and ques- Both Lewis and Pope are fore they [do],” Seeliger said
tionable work. Heery then currently awaiting trial after of Lewis and Pope.
sued DeKalb County School being indicted on racketeer- Seeliger ordered DeKalb
System for $400,000 that it ing and corruption charges County Schools and Heery
said the system still owed for allegedly running a into mediation on March 22,
them. The school system then criminal enterprise within the citing concerns for taxpayers
countersued for $100 million, school system. and mounting legal fees on
alleging fraud and claiming The school system wants both sides; the school board
that the company misman- to take the case to trial but has already paid an estimated
aged projects. Seeliger said, for it to move $15.5 million in legal fees.
Heery denies those claims forward, all witnesses must
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www.championnewspaper.com
Son allegedly
stabs mother,
siblings to
death
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
Three Lithonia family members
were stabbed to death allegedly by a
relative who was under a court order
to stay away
from them.
Eugene
Quatron Mc-
Coy, 21, has
been charged
with three
counts of mur-
der and one
count of aggra-
vated assault
McCoy and remains
in the DeKalb
County Jail.
At 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 3,
police were called to 7101 Rockland
Road in Lithonia where a mother
and two of her children had been
killed. The mother’s teenage daugh-
ter was also attacked but was able
to escape to a neighbor, who then
called police, according to Mekka
Parrish, public information officer
with the DeKalb County Police De-
partment.
The deceased victims have been
identified as Sheila Irons, 45; her
son Zion McPherson, 11; and
daughter Chasity McPherson, 8.
Candice McCoy, 17, remains in
critical condition.
Each victim was stabbed multiple
times, Parrish said. Police found
a knife believed to be the murder
weapon at the scene. Later, a jour-
nalist reportedly found a second
bloody knife on the porch of the
home.
The killings were “prompted by
some sort of dispute,” Parrish said.
“We have not determined the nature
of the dispute.”
The suspect was detained and
arrested Sunday night when police
found him walking away from the
crime scene.
McCoy has a criminal history
that started when he was 17 years
old. His record includes burglary,
misdemeanor battery, probation vio-
lation and contempt of court.
Just this year, he spent nine
weeks in jail for a criminal trespass
charge when he violated a family
protection order to stay away from
the people he is accused of killing.
McCoy was released on March 16 in
that case.
On the recent charges, McCoy
appeared before a magistrate judge
on April 4 and will have a prelimi-
nary hearing on Aug. 28.
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011
Downgraded credit rating could
bring a county tax increase
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
The DeKalb County
government has a credit problem.
Standard & Poor’s (S&P)
Ratings Services announced on
March 28 that it had lowered
the county’s general obligation
debt from AA- to BBB and its
long-term rating on the county’s
appropriation-backed debt from
A+ to BBB-.
The rating on DeKalb’s
outstanding water and sewer bonds
was dropped from AA+ to AA-.
After the ratings were lowered,
they were withdrawn by S&P, a
financial services company that
publishes financial research and
analysis on stocks and bonds.
Commissioner Jeff Rader
said the immediate impact of
the ratings on the operation of
the county government will be
marginal. However, the impact
of the downgrading of the water
and sewer debt could be “very
detrimental” to the county as
it seeks to raise money for the
water and sewer improvements,
according to Rader.
In December, the county’s
Board of Commissioners approved
$1.345 billion in improvements to
DeKalb’s water and sewer system,
which will be financed by an
11-percent rate hike each year for
three years beginning in 2012.
“We need to correct it [the
rating] in order to be able to use
that money more cost effectively,”
Rader said. “We’ve been eroding
our financial position and making
ourselves vulnerable to these bond
downgrades.”
Former court clerk says resignation invalid
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County Superior
Court Clerk Linda Carter, who
according to the Governor’s office
resigned her position on March 24,
wants her job back, claiming she
really did not resigned.
County officials are in
possession of a letter from Carter’s
attorney, Lee Parks, which requests
the revocation of her resignation.
DeKalb County spokesman
Burke Brennan said county
To address the problem, Rader
is planning to introduce legislation
to amend the 2011 budget to raise
taxes, not for additional services,
but for the budget reserves. The
current budget has $12 million
for reserves, but the county needs
$45 million—enough to keep the
county running for a month.
Rader is proposing a 3.3-mill
increase, which would bring in
approximately $51 million in
tax revenue. That would add $33
million to the county’s budget
reserves and raise an extra $17.7
million that could be used to adjust
other tax funds departmental
budgets.
“That’s going to be a tough
thing for some people in the public
to swallow,” Rader said. “What it
says is ‘we’re going to raise your
taxes and we’re not going to give
you anything else in addition for
that.’”
Rader said he does not know if
the proposed tax increase would
have enough votes to pass.
“I’m not a big fan of tax
increases but at this point I think
we’ve really got to do something
to restore the fundamental
confidence of the financial
market,” Rader said.
In downgrading the county’s
credit rating, S&P cited the
county’s Board of Commission’s
rejection of the proposed 2011
budget of Chief Executive Officer
Burrell Ellis, which called for a
12-percent property tax increase.
“I presented a lean and
responsible budget proposal to
the Board of Commissioners and
they have been playing politics
with it ever since,” Ellis said in
officials are looking into allegations
by Carter that the resignation letter
to the governor was fraudulent.
“The request is something we
have not ever had to deal with in
DeKalb County,” Brennan said.
Debra DeBerry, former chief
deputy clerk, was appointed by
Gov. Nathan Deal to the clerk old
position after Carter’s resignation.
Carter, who was elected to the
position in 2000, in the letter cited
health reasons for stepping down.
The position of superior court
clerk is an elected position.
Linda Carter
Page 3A
a statement. “Their actions are
costing DeKalb taxpayers more in
the long run, and this is another
example of that.”
Rader said it is no secret
that the commission and the
administration have been at odds
over the budget.
“The debate over the budget is
a healthy thing for us, because…
we really do have to learn how to
live within more limited means
now,” Rader said. “We can’t
expect our tax digest to expand
every year.”
Rader said the administration
has responded to the commission’s
unwillingness to approve budget
increases by cutting more than
$100 million from the budget over
the past few years.
In the current budget, the
board of commissioners mandated
8.9 percent in cuts from most
departmental budgets. The budget
of the fire and rescue department
was cut by 29.41 percent, while
the sheriff’s office and police
department were cut by 4.46
percent. The human resource
department’s budget was cut by 25
percent.
To adhere to the budget,
county departments have been
implementing various plans
including: laying off 82 fire
recruits; postponing training for 40
police recruits; eliminating police
crime scene investigators for non-
violent crimes; restricting the use
of the police helicopter; reducing
library services; and cutting hours
for the tax commissioner’s office.
Several other departments are
considering furloughs, layoffs and
a reduction of hours.
OPINION THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2011 PAGE 4A

The DeKalb County Board of Edu-
cation will soon select a new, permanent
superintendent. We’re at a critical junc-
ture and it is crucial that we get the right
one for the job. On Thursday, March 31,
at the Administration and Instructional
Complex in Tucker, the board hosted a
forum to give the public an opportunity
to see and hear from the three finalists.
It just has to be said. The attendance
by the community was abysmal! It was
all inside baseball. Those in attendance
were mainly people associated with the
system – staff, board members past and
present, teachers and union reps along
with a small army of news media.
Perhaps parents felt the forum was
merely an exercise, that the selection
was fait accompli, already done. What-
ever the excuse, the auditorium should
have been packed. It wasn’t. So, let’s
not boo and hiss when the selection is
made and we don’t feel we got the right
person.
One is reminded of the poor at-
tendance at political forums. Typically
there are more campaign workers and
news media than voters. We carp and
complain about elected officials but
we fail to adequately educate ourselves
about the candidates on the front end.
We get what we get DeKalb. People
locate to an area for its employment po-
tential, housing in a safe, secure, clean
environment and schools. We have lost
ground in each of those areas over the
past several years and it is a DeKalb
The Newslady
The right one
County problem.
We need a strong, visionary prob-
lem solver at the helm of our schools,
one who can fix what’s broken and put
our children on course to compete in a
technologically advanced global society.
The question wasn’t raised, but neither
did any of the candidates offer to talk
about the challenges of continuing to
use archaic teaching methods to cyber
savvy students. The board should make
certain that the candidates are queried
about innovations in technology to
take us to the next level in educational
instruction. Otherwise, we’ll get an
experienced caretaker who will see to
the status quo—budgets, staff, stale cur-
ricula leading to bored, non-learning,
non-productive students.
The three candidates each are from
small communities and have not had any
experience managing a $1.5 billion bud-
get and huge systems like ours. Observ-
ers at the forum were heard to say more
than once “I wish we had better choices”
and “I wish they didn’t come from such
small systems.” A sage soul once said,
“It isn’t what you have but what you do
with it.” It’s quality over quantity. Given
our school system’s overall sorry state of
affairs, the candidates should be given
high marks for even applying. That said,
here is my assessment of the candidates
in preferential order:
Dr. Lillie Cox, superintendent of
Hickory N.C., Public Schools - Dr. Cox
was the best of the lot. She was poised,
knowledgeable, credible, passionate
and possessed excellent communication
skills. The other two candidates relied
on the podium. She came around front
of the lectern, immediately establish-
ing camaraderie with the audience. Dr.
Cox is accustomed to diverse popula-
tions. She has a proven track record of
improving a low-performing district.
Dr. Cox was very specific about the
SACS Report. She also offered specif-
ics about goal setting, accountability,
educational trends, training and issues of
trust and integrity. Most importantly she
was laser-focused on children and her
belief that every child could learn. Her
philosophy was clear: Focus on the child
with great expectations. Establish and
clearly communicate procedures and
goals. Provide the best teachers at each
school, quality instruction and monitor.
The only big negative in this writer’s
opinion was her Hillary Clinton pants
suit. Let’s not hold that against her.
Dr. Gloria Davis, superintendent
of Decatur, Ill., Public Schools – Dr.
Davis came across as engaging, cred-
ible, witty, knowledgeable, poised, great
communication skills and expertly tai-
lored and coifed. Appearances do make
a difference. But it was substance over
style with Dr. Davis. She has a passion-
ate, no-nonsense approach to educating
children. By her own assessment she is
skilled in instruction and believes there
should be a seamless transition from
pre-K to graduation with an emphasis
on early education. She stressed repeat-
edly the need for constant, consistent
communication between school of-
ficials, elected officials and the overall
community. She is data driven, high
on structure, procedures, communica-
tion and accountability. It looked like a
bobble-head factory in the auditorium
when she touched on subjects like finan-
cial waste and fraud and how she would
put in place an iron-clad system of fis-
cal checks and balances. Dr. Davis puts
children first. She seems to have a great
sense of humor and a nurturing mother/
sister quality. She believes strongly in
structure, team-building, staff develop-
ment, communication and accountabil-
ity. Dr. Davis is a great second choice.
Arthur Culver, superintendent of
Champaign, Ill., Community School
District #4 – Arthur Culver is a really
nice guy. But to hear him talk is to
watch paint dry. Several people were
nodding, fighting sleep. He waxed
anecdotal with more sage saws and cli-
chés than Benjamin Franklin. His is a
wonderful Horatio Alger story. He grew
up poor, one of 10 children and learned
early the importance of education. Ad-
mirably he has been married to the same
woman for 28 years and they have three
sons. My view of Mr. Culver as a viable
candidate was shattered when I thought
I heard him say something to the effect
of what we needed to do “for the child-
rens.” I turned to my neighbor and asked
incredulously, “What did he just say?”
Nervous? Perhaps. But good grief, while
some of us may have lapses when it
comes to plurals versus possessives and
collective nouns, not my school superin-
tendent, not the individual who is at the
pinnacle of education in my community.
No. Not. Good grammar is imperative.
Mr. Culver says he doesn’t take excuses.
Neither do we.
One has to agree with Mr. Culver’s
assessment that DeKalb County is a
gold mine of great potential given the
right resources, the right attitude and
the right effort. Add one more thing,
the right person at the top. That person
is obvious among our superintendent
candidates. Dr. Cox is the standout. The
pants suit wearing young lady out of
Hickory, N.C., just might be the right
person at the right time to do the right
thing for DeKalb County children.
Steen Miles, The Newslady, is a
retired journalist and former Georgia
state senator. Contact Steen Milies at
Steen@dekalbchamp.com.

Investigate standardized testing

by Judge Greg Mathis
For several years, ever since the No Child
Left Behind Act took effect, students, teach-
ers and school districts have felt
the pressure that comes from living
in a nation that uses standardized
tests as its sole method for measur-
ing student proficiency. When too
many students at one school perform
poorly on these tests, teachers can
be fired, principals replaced and
schools closed. Hundreds of teachers
were fired in D.C. schools because
of poor performance by students on Mathis
tests. The stakes are high. But no one
would have guessed that the pressure would
lead to alleged cheating on these exams.
An investigation by USA Today into drastic
test score turnarounds at Noyes Elementary, a
Washington, D.C., public school, revealed that
seventh grade students in one classroom at the
school each had, on average, nearly 13 wrong
answers that were erased and changed to the
correct answer.
Coincidence? Maybe not. In 2006, 10
percent of the school’s students “passed” the
standardized math test. In 2008, nearly 60 per-
cent did. Tests scores showed the school made
similar gains on the reading portion of
the test. Perhaps the teachers simply
worked harder and ensured students
absorbed the lessons? Maybe. But it’s
important, for comparison, to note that
the average wrong to right erasure for
seventh graders throughout the D.C.
public school system was less than
one.
Noyes Elementary School isn’t the
only one with questionable score im-
provement. Fifty-eight Atlanta schools
are under investigation because high rates of
wrong answers changed to right on student
answer sheets raised flags. Similar occurrences
have raised red flags in Detroit as well.
If this is, in fact, cheating, who is respon-
sible? Teachers? School principals? No one is
sure but one thing is certain: if it’s happening
in D.C., Detroit and Atlanta, it is happening
in other cities. Changing test answers to fake
improvement doesn’t help our students. It hurts
them. That is why a federal task force needs to
be formed to investigate drastic improvement
on standardized tests at our nation’s public
schools. We want to believe that our teachers
and principals are honest but we also know that
fear – of being fired if students perform poorly
– or greed – teachers and principals at Noyes
received bonuses when scores improved – are
powerful motivators.
There also needs to be another way to mea-
sure student performance. We cannot simply
rely on standardized tests. Periodic monitor-
ing can easily show how students and teachers
perform in the classroom. Required essays and
math “projects” will show us that students can
actually apply what they are taught. Diversify-
ing the way we measure student performance –
and deciding the fate of teachers, principals and
schools – will also help keep things honest.
Judge Greg Mathis currently provides legal
advice to more than three million listeners on
the Steve Harvey Morning Show and also on his
website, www.askjudgemathis.com.
www.championnewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2011 Page 5A

One Man’s Opinion

“The English should give Ire-
land home rule – and reserve the
motion picture rights,” Will Rogers,
humorist, The Autobiography of
Will Rogers, 1949
Dad’s side of my family is
Scotch/Irish/Welsh. Following a
homecoming trip in 1998 to the
southern crescent of Ireland we are
all firmly convinced that our Irish
blood runs deep.
And like most everyone else in
America, we look for most any oc-
casion to celebrate that heritage,
including St. Patrick’s Day. Much
like Americans during the tequila-
soaked celebration of Cinco de
Mayo, which has only a negligible
connection to the actual Mexican
Independence Day, I guess I will go
with “it’s the thought and sentiment
that counts.”
Having visited the actual Blar-
ney Stone, which the locals will tell
you some disgusting things about, I
Luck of the Irish?
can attest that by the time the vari-
ous Irish legends and tales of pots
of gold and rainbows made it across
the Atlantic, they had grown signifi-
cantly in transit.
And though we often hear about
the luck o’ the Irish, I can also tell
you I experienced considerably
more of their charity, thrift and com-
mon sense. And I was not surprised,
during this explosion of global defi-
cit spending, to see the Irish among
the first to go through some painful
belt tightening. The governments
of Ireland cut public sector jobs and
spending, and slammed the breaks
on entitlement spending indexing
for inflation. It appeared briefly,
after some pretty heady days in the
‘90s and last decade that Ireland
might be among the first in the Eu-
ropean Union to emerge intact from
this Great Recession.
Unfortunately, as practical as
Ireland was being about cutting
spending, the nation had also blindly
committed to honor all the obliga-
tions of its five largest and predomi-
nantly state-owned banks. Thus far,
bailing out those institutions has
cost an investment of 46.3 billion
Euros. This may not sound like a
great deal by U.S. standards, but
consider that Ireland’s entire popula-
tion and GDP is closer in size to that
of the state of Georgia.
As here in the states, the crux of
the banking crisis in Ireland, as well
as questions of ongoing solvency,
are tied to a real estate bubble that
burst hard in 2008, but has yet to
reach its bottom. Whereas here
stateside, the “American dream”
of home ownership has developed
a sequel of The Money Pit with a
growing number of home owners
owing more than their primary asset
is currently worth, in Ireland, this
perfect storm of declining wages,
Gross Domestic Product and real
estate values has much of the island
nation drowning in a sea of debt,
with narry a rainbow or pot of gold
in sight.
Fortunately, I am not alone in
believing more in the “pluck of the
Irish” than their legendary luck. I
believe that the same country that
largely exported its strongest and
most able, to help build out the great
American cities of our industrial
age, and who survived multiple
rounds of famine and potato blight
will also rally and survive these
challenging times.
Myths are sometime replaced,
or even laid to rest during times of
great adversity. One of my favorites
was the speed with which locals
supposedly race to the nearest pub at
the stroke of 5 p.m. and traditional
end of the work day. As I said, the
stories only grow in translation. In
truth, in Ireland, the pubs are small
and simple restaurants, usually in
the center of each township. They
are the informal town hall, and
where the locals gather to com-
miserate, socialize and discuss the
challenges of their lives. In Ireland,
a man not only buys his own drink,
he buys a “round” for his circle of
friends—and his/her friends return
the favor by spotting the “next
pint.” This typically continues un-
til each in a circle has bought the
group a cordial. Arriving early, or
first, at the stroke of five, simply
means buying a smaller round, as
the crowds and tabs tend to grow as
evening arrives.
So even in this charming tradi-
tion, the Irish thrift and pluck trump
the legend and the luck, making
a two-pint buy simply a smarter
bargain than five, 10 or a baker’s
dozen. So on this non-Irish holiday,
please join me in a toast, and wish-
ing luck to our good friends—the
Irish.
Bill Crane is a DeKalb County
native and business owner, living in
Scottdale, Georgia. He also serves
as chief political analyst and com-
mentator for 11Alive News and WSB
Radio, News/Talk 750. Contact Bill
Crane at Bill@dekalbchamp.com.

FREEPRESS
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views. Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain
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verification. All letters will be considered for publication.
Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P. O. Box 1347,
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FAX To: (404) 370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779
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Page 6A
Sarah Palin and the
dozen dwarfs
The tea party effect: no Republican who can win the
general election in 2012 can be nominated.
There are those–I
won’t name them, they
know who they are–who
have taken to calling the
slate of Republican presi-
dential hopefuls “Sarah
Palin and the Seven
Dwarfs.” That’s unfair.
There are way more
than seven GOP politi-
cians ready to run. I put
the list right now at about
12, give or take a dwarf.
And there’d be more
except that John Thune
withdrew from the race a
month or so ago.
Most of the rest of the
GOP gang showed up in
Washington a few months
ago to try out their acts
at the Conservative Po-
litical Action Conference.
Generally speaking, the
candidates spoke with one
voice–for God, guns, and
Ronald Reagan. They
were uniformly against
health care, taxes, and
Barack Obama. (Have I
mentioned that the confer-
ence was about a quart
low on new ideas?)
The 10,000 attend-
ees listened to all of the
speeches, then made
Ron Paul, the Texan
flat-earther, their choice
for president. (Did I also
mention that its sense of
reality was running on
empty?)
Ironically, the only
Republican that a clear
majority of Americans
could pick out of a police
lineup–Sarah Palin–failed
to show up at the con-
ference. She and Mike
Huckabee, the comfort-
food candidate, were busy
organizing their sock
drawers. Or something.
To call the Republican
field weak is to understate
Printed on 100% post-consumer
recycled paper
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011
by Donald Kaul
Columnist
the obvious. It’s a collec-
tion of has-been (Newt
Gingrich, Haley Barbo-
ur, Mitt Romney), never-
were (Tim Pawlenty,
Rick Santorum, Mitch
Daniels) and “who’s he?”
candidates (Herman
Cain, Jon Huntsman).
The real problem the
Republicans have, how-
ever, isn’t the relative
anonymity of their can-
didates–after all, hardly
anyone knew who Obama
was two years before he
was elected. It’s the fact
that no Republican who
can win the general elec-
tion in 2012 can be nomi-
nated. Call it the tea party
effect.
Republican candidates
aren’t merely afraid of
tea party conservatives,
they’re terrified. One after
another, they’ve repudi-
ated past votes, policies,
and beliefs in fear of of-
fending those wild-eyed
people in the funny hats.
Romney? As Governor
of Massachusetts he ad-
vocated and got passed a
health care plan much like
President Obama’s. He’s
now against it.
Pawlenty? When he
was Governor of Minne-
sota he backed cap-and-
trade legislation, a scarlet
letter to real conserva-
tives. He has apologized
for the error.
Newt Gingrich? The
former Speaker of the
House may be a great
advocate for the sanctity
www.championnewspaper.com
of marriage, but both
times this do-what-
I-say-not-what-I-do
adulterer got divorced,
he was dumping a
wife suffering from a
severe illness. The first
was recovering from The following comments are pulled straight from our website and
uterine cancer and the are not edited for content or grammar.
second had recently been
diagnosed with multiple ‘Sovereign citizens’ indicted for property thefts
sclerosis.
Go through the list. This is a warning to potential renters that they
Everyone’s got something should do some research on a property before
about him for conserva-
they sign a lease and pay rents to anyone. This
tives to hate.
No wonder they look information is easily verified here, http://www.
back so fondly on Ronald foreclosurecourt.org/find-out-if-your-home-is-in-
Reagan, the mythological foreclosure.html
figure bearing the name
of our 40th president. – KevinWilliams posted this on 3/30/11 at 3:04
To hear Republicans
p.m.
talk, Reagan was George
Washington, Winston
Churchill and John
Wayne rolled into one. Fire department cuts 82 recruits to save cash
He really wasn’t. The
real Ronnie wasn’t as I am involved with another municipality that was
bad as Democrats made
facing the same situation in its police dept. We
him out to be, but he was
guilty of one great sin: He let our academy graduates graduate. Though we
convinced the American could not hire them, the belief was that they could
people that they could go elsewhere, get a couple of years experience,
have all the government and then when we were ready to hire again we
they wanted without hav- would have a pool of experienced officers from the
ing to pay taxes for it.
academy who might want to come back home. Our
He tripled the national
debt during his time in of- belief that at least letting them finish developed
fice and set his party on some trust and loyalty for them to return when rev-
the disastrous course the enues improve. We would also not have to begin
United States still travels. another training program anew; and letting them
Yet, given the yahoos graduate could actually save us money.
and know-nothings the
Republicans are left with
today, I can see why they – Loxly posted this on 4/1/11 at 9:08 a.m.
look back upon Reagan
with fondness. He was a
man of great charm. County to examine all government jobs
Then again, so was
Bernie Madoff.
Yawn. Just another study generated by yet another
OtherWords columnist
Donald Kaul lives in Ann budget retreat to pay some more consultants.
Arbor, Michigan. www.
otherwords.org – Chatty posted this on 3/31/11 at 11:57 p.m
www.championnewspaper.com
House passes celebratory
gunfire resolution
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
The 15 months since her
son was accidentally killed
by a bullet during a New
Year’s Eve church service
have been difficult.
“Some days it’s hard,”
said Natalee Peters. “But
I’m hanging in there.”
Peters’ son, 4-year-old
Marquel, was a victim of
celebratory gunfire. As he
sat next to his mother in
church, Marquel was struck
and killed by a bullet that
came through the roof of the
sanctuary and struck him in
the top of his head. The bul-
let is believed to have been
fired by a New Year’s Eve
reveler.
Georgia’s House of Rep-
resentatives voted 139-23
on March 28 to pass HR
341, a measure that urges
“increased public awareness
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011
of the dangers of celebratory
gunfire.”
By adopting the resolu-
tion the house “committed
to studying and adopting
tougher criminal sanctions
for those who commit cele-
bratory gunfire which results
in injury or death to another
person.”
“Now is the time for
Georgia’s leaders to come
together and to work to-
gether to help prevent the
senseless loss like the loss
of beautiful little Marquel
Peters,” states the resolution
which was introduced by
state Rep. Michele Henson
of District 87.
“What we hope is that
this resolution can put an
end to celebratory gunfire
and we’ll never have anoth-
er senseless death,” Henson
said. “Marquel should still
be with us today.”
Henson said the pur-
pose of the resolution is to
eliminate the practice by
getting people to recognize
the danger and “unintended
consequences” of celebra-
tory gunfire.
“The loss of an inno-
cent human life is always
tragic, but it seems even
more so when it is caused
by a thoughtless random
act,” Henson said. “There
are times we all want to cel-
ebrate special occasions, but
it is never right to celebrate
in a way that endangers hu-
man life. It is never right to
celebrate with random gun-
fire.”
Natalee Peters said she
is hoping to see positive re-
sults from the resolution and
the county’s campaign.
“I appreciate what the
county has done since his
death to ensure no one will
be a victim of this any-
more,” Peters said.
Page 7A
Jimmy Dorsey
Champion of the Week
DeKalb Services Cen-
ter in Brookhaven gar-
den, where he helps
disabled people work
in gardens.
Dorsey also judges
various contests for
school 4-H programs
at least twice a year.
He recently consulted
with a local school
on its plans to make
a garden and has
written gardening col-
Jimmy Dorsey has umns for local news-
a thing for longevity papers. At the DeKalb
He has been mar- Farmers Market, he
ried to his wife Mary has helped teach
residents about yard
Sue for 47 years.
They have lived in the waste recycling such
same house in Cham- as composting and
blee for 47 years. And mulching.
Dorsey has a car that He also spends
is 47 years old. time in the office
And for the past where he fields phone
10 years of his retire- calls from people who
ment, the 78-year-old have questions about
former pharmacist has gardening.
volunteered as a mas- For the past five
ter gardener with the years, Dorsey has
worked with some
DeKalb Cooperative
Extension service. neighbors on four
“Jim has been a plots of land that they
wonderful volunteer, call “bridge gardens,”
helping us out in the where Shallowford
community now for Road crosses I-85.
about 10 years,” said “Most people do like
Gary Peiffer, horticul- gardening…particular-
ture manager for the ly in retirement,” Dors-
DeKalb Cooperative ey said. Dorsey retired
Extension. He is an in 1995 after spending
“extraordinary volun- the last 38 years of his
teer.” career as the director
Next month, Dorsey of pharmacy for Grady
will be recognized for Memorial Hospital.
10 years of service. Dorsey’s favorite
As a volunteer, plants to work with are
Dorsey works with perennials.
several local gar- “I like roses,” Dors-
dens, including the ey said. “I don’t think
Plant A Row For the they’re a lot of trouble.
Hungry garden near And they’re pretty,
Brookhaven and the too.”
If you would like to nominate someone to
be considered as a future Champion of the
Week, please contact Kathy Mitchell at
kathy@DeKalbchamp.com or at
404-373-7779, ext. 104.
Page 8A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com

NEWS BRIEFS
DeKalb County women’s prison
closed to save money
ATLANTA (AP) The state of Georgia has
closed a prison in DeKalb County to save mon-
ey.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that
Metro State Prison was shuttered April1 to save
$19.1 million a year.
The Department of Corrections said it has
moved the almost 800 female inmates who
were housed there to two rural prisons—Lee
Arrendale State Prison in Alto in Banks County
in northeast Georgia and Pulaski State Prison in
Hawkinsville in south Georgia.
DOC Commissioner Brian Owens told leg-
islators earlier this year that he chose to close
Metro because despite the 27.5 percent rise in
the overall prison population over the last de-
cade, the number of women coming into the
system had dropped.
Owens said in January a private prison op-
erator may be interested in the building.
Fourth suspect arrested for shooting
at apartment complex
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has
arrested a fourth person in the March 7 shooting
death of Donovan Austin.
Destiny McDuffie, 20, was arrested March
29 and charged with murder for her part in the
killing. Austin was shot several times in the
parking lot of Creekside Corner Apartments
at 6306 Turnberry Place in Stone Mountain at
approximately 3:45 a.m., according to DeKalb
police spokeswoman Mekka Parrish.
Austin and another man had returned from
a night club where they apparently had an
altercation with the group of suspects involved
in the shooting. The suspects followed the two
men to the apartment complex. Austin was
found dead at the scene and the second victim
was taken to an area hospital.
McDuffie was arrested at Wesley Place
Apartment Homes in Lawrenceville. Others
who have been previously arrested for their
roles in the shooting are Jacques Thornton,
Marquette Mackie and Sentelle Williams.
IHM sale to benefit artisans, farmers
Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) School
is hosting a Work of Human Hands Sale, a
program where fairly traded gifts, accessories
and other hand-crafted items are sold to help
artisans and farmers living in developing
regions. The sale will be held on Friday, April
15, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the school
library, at 2855 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta.
Catholic Relief Services partners with
SERRV, a nonprofit organization dedicated to
fighting poverty and promote fair trade. These
organizations buy and provide a market for high
quality, fairly traded handcrafts and gourmet
food items from disadvantaged artisans and
farmers around the world. This means that the
people who produce them earn a fair price, get
access to credit and training, and other forms of
community support to improve their lives.
For more information visit: www.ihmschool.
org.
Registration ongoing
for fine arts camp
DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and
Cultural Affairs is partnering with the Erintunde
Youth Institute to present an International
Fine Arts Camp. There will be four two-week
summer sessions that run June 6 through July
29 at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and
Community Center.
Each two-week session will be from 7 a.m.
to 6 p.m. and focus on a different part of the
world, ending with a presentation distinct to
the culture studied. The International Fine Arts
Camp is for ages 6-14 and will be held Monday
through Friday at a cost of $200 per child and
$150 for each additional child. Scholarships are
also available on a first come, first served basis.
Online registration is under way. Also,
residents can register at the Porter Sanford III
Performing Arts & Community Center on April
26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will be
provided with breakfast and lunch during the
camp.
Humane Society honors
Rep. Johnson
The Humane Society of the United States
on March 30 awarded Judiciary and House
Armed Services committee member Rep. Hank
Johnson (D-GA) with its annual Legislative
Leader award for his work in 2010.
The Humane Society praised Johnson for
his leadership on appropriations language
encouraging the secretary of defense to develop
alternatives to the use of live animals in
battlefield trauma training. Johnson will receive
his award at a reception in the Capitol.
Johnson also announced March 30 that he
will cosponsor H.R. 403 in the 112th Congress,
the Battlefield Excellence through Superior
Training Practices Act or BEST Practices
Act, which prohibits the use of animals in
live combat trauma injury and chemical and
biological training.
Dunwoody Police officers
recognized for DUI arrests
Two Dunwoody Police officers were
recognized by the Georgia chapter of Mothers
Against Drunk Driving recently at the seventh
annual Golden Shield Honors Program. The
event honored police departments and officers
who are committed to making the roads safer
through DUI enforcement.
Officer Tim Waldron received the Bronze
Award for making 39 DUI arrests in 2010.
Officer Alvin Rodriguez received the Silver
Star for making 68 DUI arrests in 2010.
County to showcase its services
At Northlake Mall (lower level near Macy’s)
4800 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, DeKalb County
will showcase its departments together in
one place Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.,
offering residents an opportunity to learn about
resources and services available through county
government. The neighborhood resource center
is designed as a “one stop” service center for
information on and assistance with county
services and provides informational pamphlets,
brochures and educational literature on county
departments to the public.
Assistance for heating bills available
DeKalb County residents can apply for a
one-time assistance payment of either $310
or $350 to help with the rising cost of winter
heating bills. The assistance is available through
the Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP). Residents who heat with
gas or have a totally electric household, meet
the income guidelines of 60 percent of the
median household income for Georgia, and
who can provide the following information may
apply: proof of income for the past 30 days for
all household members ages 18 and older; most
recent home heating bill; and verification of
Social Security cards for household members
or some other legal proof of Social Security
numbers. For more information, call (404) 537-
4300.

The City of Dunwoody, Georgia: Notice of Public Hearing

A Public Hearing pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-60-13(g), as amended, will be held before the
Mayor and City Council during the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting on Monday,
April 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall (41 Perimeter Center East, Suite
100, Dunwoody, GA 30346), for the purpose of due process of the following: financing, by
installment sale agreement or such other method, the purchase of real property located on
Parcel 001 of Land Lot 345, District 18 of DeKalb County, Georgia, addressed at 4000
Dunwoody Park, a 16.18 acre parcel of land and the construction of facilities thereon.

All persons residing in the City having questions concerning, or views on, the proposed
acquisition of real property, the construction of facilities or the financing may appear and be
heard at the public hearing.

For more information, contact Finance Director Chris Pike at chris.pike@dunwoodyga.gov or

678-382-6751.
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011 Page 9A

MARTA wants flexibility in budget

by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
If a one-cent sales tax
for regional transportation
projects is passed next year,
local leaders want to make
sure the Metropolitan At-
lanta Rapid Transit Authority
(MARTA) gets its fair share.
But state law does not
allow the transit system to
use its funding wherever it
is needed, leaders said. And
that lack of inflexibility is
a major impediment for the
transit system.
“We’ve done the best that
we can,” said Beverly Scott,
chief executive officer for
MARTA. Representatives
from DeKalb and Fulton
counties and the city of At-
lanta met with MARTA offi-
cials on March 31 to discuss
their efforts to develop vari-
ous transportation projects in
the Atlanta area.
Last year, Georgia’s leg-
islature enacted the Trans-
portation Investment Act
(HB 277), which provides
for regional referendums
in 2012. As a result, voters
in the Atlanta metropolitan
area will be able to vote on a
penny sales tax to fund vari-
ous transportation projects,
including transit, roadway,
safety, bicycle and pedestrian
improvements.
The sales tax is expected
to generate approximately $8
billion in revenue.
March 31 was the dead-
line for cities and counties to
submit proposed projects to
be considered by the Georgia
Department of Transporta-
tion (GDOT) and a regional
roundtable of city and county
leaders. From those projects,
a project list will be recom-
mended for the 2012 refer-
endum.
Among the projects be-
ing considered for DeKalb
County is the construction
of a MARTA light rail along
I-20 from Atlanta to Stone-
crest Mall at a cost of $1.35
billion. Another proposed
light rail would cost $465
million and run from Deca-
tur to the Lindberg MARTA
station in Atlanta.
MARTA has a capital im-
provement program of $188
million, which is well under
the $325 million the system
used in each of the past 10
years.
“All we are doing in capi-
tal right now is if it breaks,
I fix it,” Scott said. MARTA
also makes improvements
for safety and regulatory
compliance.
Scott said MARTA’s $400
million operating budget
is not enough. The transit
system is falling short by
$100 million for operations
and another $100 million
for capital improvements.
MARTA has approximately
$150 million in reserves, but
after next year, that money
will be gone.
“We’re just about at the
end of everything MARTA
had in reserves,” Scott said.
Last year, MARTA cut it is the “basic backbone of said. “Any improvement,
services, reduced its work- regional transit” that allows frankly, in our jurisdictions
force by 15 percent, man- the Atlanta region to attract are almost by definition
dated a 10-day furlough for Fortune 500 companies, ma- regional. Almost any invest-
workers, and signed a zero- jor sporting events and large ment in MARTA will be a
increase labor union contract events. regional investment.”
to stabilize the transit system “Fulton and DeKalb are A final list on the pro-
until the funding comes in the jurisdictions that most posed projects for the ref-
from the possible sales tax people come to or come erendum is expected to be
increase, Scott said. through when they are com- release in October.
“We’re being very clear: muting in this region,” Rader
the reality is that MARTA is
not sustainable without in-
creased investments.”
Local leaders have
criticized HB 277 because it
does not permanently give
MARTA the financial flexi-
bility it needs. Currently, un-
der state law, MARTA must
use 50 percent of its funding
for operations and 50 for
capital improvements. That
regulation was suspended by
HB 277 for three years and
Scott said MARTA benefit-
ted from that waver: $61
million in MARTA funding
was freed up.
“HB 277 is lacking in
many respects,” DeKalb
Commissioner Lee May
said. “By shoring up some of
those loose ends in HB 277,
we’ll be more confident in
having a project list that can
pass a public referendum.
Right now there is no con-
fidence. Public sentiment is
very questionable on wheth-
er a referendum on any list
will pass.”
DeKalb Commissioner
Jeff Rader said the region
should support the MARTA
heavy rail system because

City of Doraville Municipal Court Amnesty Day

The City of Doraville Municipal Court will hold a day of Amnesty for those individuals who have
past due, unpaid traffic citations and those who have active Failure to Appear Bench Warrants.
Amnesty day will be held on Saturday, April 30th, from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Municipal Court
building located at 3765 Park Ave., Doraville, GA 30340. During that time contempt fees will be
waived from past due citations and individuals with bench warrants will not have to pay warrant
fees. A Judge will be present to hear those cases where a court appearance in required. The
forms of payments that will be accepted are cash, money order, cashiers checks, and credit
cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover). You may call the Doraville Municipal Court at 770-455-1001
for further details.
Page 10A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com

Suspects named in killing of

armored car courier
by Robert Naddra ing an ATM at the Kroger with armed robbery, ag-
robert@dekalbchamp.com in the Toco Hills Shopping gravated assault and pos-
Center. session of a firearm by a
Two people who are in Henderson and Dooley convicted felon.
the Gwinnett County Jail were arrested by Gwinnett In the Jan. 21 incident,
have been identified as sus- County Police in March in police said a courier for
pects in the killing of an ar- connection with armored Loomis was servicing a
mored car guard in DeKalb car robberies in that county. Wells Fargo ATM on Redan
County, police said. Edwin Thornton, who Road in Stone Mountain
Ashley Henderson, 27, also has been charged in when he was ambushed and
and Stacy Dooley, 34, have connection with the March shot at several times by one
been charged with murder, 15 incident, turned himself suspect.
aggravated assault and pos- in to DeKalb County police Suspects got away with
session of a firearm by a on April 1, Parrish said. an undisclosed amount
convicted felon for their Thornton along with of cash in both robberies,
role in the March 15 shoot- Henderson, Dooley and police said. The ongoing
ing death of Garda armored 34-year-old Quinton investigation is being con-
car courier Gary Castillo, Booker face charges in ducted by DeKalb County
said DeKalb Police spokes-
woman Mekka Parrish.
connection with an armored
car robbery on Jan. 21 in
and Gwinnett County police
departments, the DeKalb
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 www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011 Page 11A

Dunwoody daycare murder suspect pleads not guilty

by Andrew Cauthen man and Hemy Neuman Panitch said. “That state’s
Andrew@dekalbchamp.com about the alleged affair was evidence, we believe, will
denied by a judge. make our case that much
Hemy Neuman, the man Esther Panitch, Ariela’s stronger.”
accused of the November attorney, is hoping to get ac- Ariela Neuman is “doing
2010 death of Dunwoody cess to evidence being held as well as can be expected
entrepreneur Russell by the state to prove her under these horrific, aw-
Sneiderman pleaded not clients allegations. Panitch ful circumstances,” Panitch
guilty in DeKalb County said she is particularly inter- said.
Superior Court on April 4. ested in hearing statements “Imagine anybody wak-
Neuman’s attorney, Doug from Andrea Sneiderman ing up and having the police
Peters, was granted a 30- “That will give a picture … [say] their spouse is now
day extension to review of what was happening,” accused of murder when Hemy Neuman, left, and his attorney Doug Peters listen to judge in
the state’s mountainous Panitch said. they’ve never had a his- Neuman’s arraignment hearing. Photo by Andrew Cauthen
evidence and to prepare pre- “We still have enough tory of any type of criminal ferent from a death. They shame of what he’s brought
trial motions. to go forward with or with- activity,” Panitch said. “It’s can’t mourn this person and upon her family.”
The 45-year-old Neuman out the state’s evidence,” devastating. It’s a little dif- now they’re living with the
was indicted by a grand jury
of malice murder and pos-
sessing a firearm during the
commission of a felony in DeKalb County Wants to Hear From You
connection with the death of Regarding the Proposed Franchise Agreement Renewal
Sneiderman, 36, who was with Comcast Cable Communications
shot multiple times outside
Dunwoody Prep daycare, Send your comments and/or concerns regarding Comcast’s current performance under
where he had just dropped the current franchise agreement and/or the future cable-related needs and interests of
off his son. your community to cable@co.dekalb.ga.us.
Prosecutors have collect-
ed more than 6,200 pages
of evidence and dozens of
The Champion Weather April 7, 2011
hours of recordings, ac- Seven Day Forecast In-Depth Local Forecast Today's Regional Map Weather History
cording to DeKalb County Today we will see sunny skies with a high April 7, 1980 - Severe thunder-
District Attorney Robert THURSDAY temperature of 75º, humidity of 41%. South storms spawned tornadoes which
James. Sunny wind 5 to 10 mph. The record high temperature ripped through central Arkansas.
Dunwoody
High: 75 Low: 57
“This is not your average for today is 85º set in 1959. Expect mostly 73/56 Lilburn The severe thunderstorms also
murder case,” James said. FRIDAY
cloudy skies tonight with a slight chance of Smyrna Doraville 74/57 produced high winds and
Peters said the additional showers, overnight low of 57º. 74/57 74/57 baseball size hail. Five counties
Partly Cloudy Snellville were declared disaster areas by
time to study the evidence High: 78 Low: 62 *Last Week’s Almanac Decatur
75/57 President Carter.
was necessary because “this Date Hi Lo Normals Precip
Atlanta 75/57
is probably one of the more 75/57
SATURDAY Tuesday 53 42 69/46 0.00" Lithonia April 8, 1926 - An oil depot
complicated criminal cases Mostly Sunny Wednesday 57 50 69/47 0.74" College Park 76/57 fire set by lightning boiled
that have ever been brought High: 82 Low: 62 Thursday 54 44 69/47 0.01" 76/57 Morrow over and engulfed 900 acres
in DeKalb County.” Friday 57 40 69/47 0.00" 76/57 near San Luis Obispo, Calif.
SUNDAY Union City
Added to Neuman’s legal Saturday 68 42 70/47 0.00" Many tornado vortices resulted
Sunday 78 40 70/47 0.00" 76/57 from the intense heat of the
troubles are allegations by Mostly Sunny
High: 83 Low: 61 Monday 82 52 70/48 0.49" fire. One such tornado traveled
his wife Ariela of an affair Rainfall . . . . . . .1.24" Average temp . .54.2
Hampton
1,000 yards, picked up a
between Hemy Neuman MONDAY Normal rainfall . .1.02" Average normal 58.2
77/58
house, and carried it 150 feet,
and Andrea Sneiderman, Isolated T-storms Departure . . . . .+0.22" Departure . . . . .-4.0 killing the occupants.
the victim’s wife. Andrea High: 76 Low: 58 *Data as reported from De Kalb-Peachtree Airport
Sneiderman worked under Local Sun/Moon Chart This Week Tonight's Planets
Hemy Neuman, an opera- TUESDAY Day Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset
tions and quality manager Rise Set
Mostly Cloudy First Thursday 7:17 a.m. 8:02 p.m. 9:25 a.m. Next Day Last
Mercury 7:18 a.m. 8:19 p.m.
at GE Electric Energy in High: 73 Low: 51 4/11 Friday 7:15 a.m. 8:03 p.m. 10:13 a.m. 12:06 a.m. 4/24
Venus 5:54 a.m. 5:20 p.m.
Marietta. Saturday 7:14 a.m. 8:04 p.m. 11:07 a.m. 12:59 a.m.
Mars 6:47 a.m. 6:57 p.m.
Ariela Neuman filed for WEDNESDAY Sunday 7:13 a.m. 8:05 p.m. 12:06 p.m. 1:49 a.m.
Jupiter 7:21 a.m. 7:55 p.m.
legal separation from her Mostly Cloudy Full Monday 7:12 a.m. 8:05 p.m. 1:08 p.m. 2:35 a.m. New Saturn 7:33 p.m. 7:25 a.m.
husband in February. High: 68 Low: 52 4/17 Tuesday 7:10 a.m. 8:06 p.m. 2:14 p.m. 3:17 a.m. 5/3 Uranus 6:40 a.m. 6:43 p.m.
Peters would not discuss Wednesday 7:09 a.m. 8:07 p.m. 3:21 p.m. 3:56 a.m.
the details of Ariela Neu- Local UV Index National Weather Summary This Week Weather Trivia
man’s allegations because of
?
The Northeast will see mostly clear to partly cloudy skies with a few showers today,
an agreement with prosecu- scattered showers and thunderstorms Friday and Saturday, with the highest temperature
How far is the sun from
tors not to discuss the case the Earth?
0 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+ of 71º in East St. Louis, Ill. The Southeast will see mostly clear skies today through
publicly in order to ensure a UV Index
Saturday, with the highest temperature of 88º in Punta Gorda, Fla. The Northwest will see scattered rain
fair trial. 0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate, and snow today, mostly clear to partly cloudy skies with isolated rain Friday and Saturday, with the Answer: 93 million miles.
“Nothing about these 6-7: High, 8-10: Very High highest temperature of 60º in Medford, Ore. The Southwest will see mostly clear skies today, isolated
charges that are filed is go- 11+: Extreme Exposure showers and thunderstorms Friday and Saturday, with the highest temperature of 88º in Artesia, N.M. www.WhatsOurWeather.com
ing to change what’s most StarWatch By Gary Becker - Dancing with the Stars
important to him and that’s Last Tuesday under transparent skies, I had my Moravian College students over to Bill Jacobs’ Farm in Pleasant Valley, PA. Friends, Marcella Gustantino and Joe Zelinski,
his own children,” Peters brought telescopes to help to reduce the viewing lines. None of us had used our “big” scopes since last fall, and we were somewhat like groundhogs becoming conscious
said. “He’s had an entire life from hibernation after a long, cold, winter—a little slow on the uptake, but thank goodness, we didn’t have to cross any busy highway. We would have been all roadkill.
of providing for his chil- Students started arriving about ten minutes before sundown, so I got them familiar with chasing down jet aircraft as they headed into the sunset, their short crimson contrails
dren. Hemy Neuman wor- indicating dry conditions aloft. I pointed out the gray mask of the Earth’s shadow rising in the east. Then Sirius the Dog Star was spotted by keen-eyed, Justin Miranda, no more than 15
minutes after sundown. I was impressed. A few minutes later, more and more luminaries began to battle their way into visibility as a turquoise sky faded to denim. In the west a few degrees
ships his children. He loves above the tree line, Mercury was spotted with binoculars, then with the unaided eye, and then seen through my scope. It was only the second time I had viewed the most elusive of the
his family.” naked eye worlds through a telescope. Cranky computer drives notwithstanding, that made the evening into a rousing success. For the next hour or so we picked out the Orion Nebula here,
Last month, a motion by the Pleiades there and various other late winter charmers, as we telescopically cruised the ocean of stars. Junior, Kristin Popovice, used my bright green laser to find all of the constella-
Ariela Neuman’s attorney tions successfully, as well as down a few planes. I didn’t pack up until nearly 11 p.m., but students had discovered that in the carriage house, Bill and John had prepared a feast fit for any
to question Andrea Sneider- college crowd. Someone reportedly said, “No Taco Bell tonight.” Thanks to all for a great, great evening. www.astronomy.org
hEalth The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011 Page 12A

Bernie Marcus stands with youngsters who have received help at the Marcus Autism Center as they hold a thank-you message handmade for him. Photo by Kathy Mitchell

Blue skies ahead for autism treatment

Switch flipped at Marcus Center symbolically sets aglow blue lights
across the country to raise awareness of autism
by Kathy Mitchell him that with his help Atlanta could children is being diagnosed with to underscore April as Autism
become the nation’s capital for some form of autism.” That’s a good Awareness month, celebrate the
During the past decade the early diagnosis and intervention deal of the problem, he continued. 20th anniversary of Marcus’
number of Americans who know of Autism and that by leveraging No one knows exactly what autism commitment to improving the lives
what autism is has risen from 28 Marcus Autism Center’s high is or what causes it. of children with autism and related

So many reasons to join!

percent to 78 percent, but families clinical volumes, research will have What doctors and other scientists disorders and to kick off Light it
affected by autism and caregivers a transformative impact on autism. have learned about autism is that Up Blue–a campaign by Autism
who work with those families say Marcus acknowledged that he the earlier it’s diagnosed, the more Speaks encouraging prominent
that percentage should be higher—
close to 100 percent.
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
knew little about autism before
meeting a family that struggled
successfully it can be treated,
according to Klin. “It’s much
buildings throughout the world to
light their locations blue on World
And they’re turning on blue 100it.Crescent
with Center Pkwy.,
Bob and Suzanne Wright,Suite 680.
moreTucker,
malleable GAin 30084 (404) 378-8000
small children www.DeKalbChamber.org
Autism Day, April 2. This year more
lights across the country to remind grandparents of an autistic child because their minds are much more than 300 locations have agreed to
people of the little understood and founders of Autism Speaks, malleable,” he said. Increasing participate, including the Empire
Looking for new customers? We can help!
condition, starting at an event at the an organization founded in 2005
Marcus Autism Center on March “to change the future for all who
awareness, he said, improves the
likelihood that parents and doctors
State Building, Niagara Falls and
CN Tower in Toronto. In Georgia,
31.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Ami DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
struggle with autism spectrum
disorders,” prompted Marcus’
will recognize the condition when
early symptoms appear and would
Fernbank Museum of Natural
History, the city of Douglasville,
Klin, the center’s recently
100 Crescent
named Center
interestPkwy., SuiteMore
in autism. 680.than
Tucker, GA 30084
40,000 (404)the
help attract 378-8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org
funds needed to the Atlanta Hawks, Viewpoint and
director, said that in his early years children have been treated at the continue research. Metropolis condominiums also
in the field when he told people that Marcus Autism Center since it was Kimberly Dick, walk chair for agreed to support Light it Up Blue.
he works with autistic children, they founded in 1991 as the Marcus Georgia Walks Now For Autism During a highlight of the
The Voice of Business in DeKalb County
would respond, “Oh, you work with Developmental Resource Center at
artistic children—that’s nice.” Emory University.
Speaks, brought her son Caleb to event, Marcus and Klin flipped an
the lectern and said that after Caleb oversized mock-up of a light switch
Klin was personally recruited
from Yale University by Bernie DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
“I thought it was a very rare
disease—condition, problem,
started exhibiting behaviors the
family didn’t understand she was
in front of a crowd of supporters
wearing blue to symbolize the
Marcus, the center’s founder. 100
what Crescent
ever Center
it is—with onlyPkwy.,
a smallSuiterelieved
680. Tucker, GA 30084
to receive a diagnosis and lights and awareness taking place
Although Klin was operating 404-378-8000
population affected by it,” he said. www.DeKalbChamber.org
to have a top-tier place to bring him throughout April.
what he called a highly successful “I was very wrong. It’s a large for help.
program at Yale, Marcus persuaded population. As many as one in 110 The March 31 event was

Your competitor is likely a member!

DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
100 Crescent Center Pkwy., Suite 680. Tucker, GA 30084 (404) 378-8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org
www.championnewspaper.com
From left, Candidates Lilie Cox, Arthur Culver and Gloria Davis each had 50 minutes to convince the citizens of DeKalb that they were the best candidate for superintendent.
Photos provided
Candidates
and [another] in the trunk of the car,’
because we are going to make sure
that the things that need to be ad-
dressed get addressed, and they get
addressed quickly,” she said.
All three candidates spoke about
the importance of data driven devel-
opment within the district and said
that the focus needed to be switched
back to the children. They also noted
that financial oversight and proper
procedural programs must be put in
place and frequently monitored in
order to eliminate waste, fraud and
maintain a system of checks and bal-
ances.
Davis and Culver stressed the se-
riousness of having a strong internal
auditor but Cox said that she thinks it
is important, instead, to have an exter-
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, APRIL 8,2011
nal audit.
“I think that it’s important to
have [an audit] done by an external
contracted company or an employee
that’s an external auditor [who] re-
ports directly to the board,” said Cox.
Chris Adams, a citizen who sat
taking notes on his laptop, said that
although all of the candidates seemed
like they were qualified, Lillie Cox
was the only one who he felt had
demonstrated success at every level.
“She provided the most specifics
as to how she would hold schools and
teachers accountable…it was clear
that she had done her homework on
DeKalb County, its opportunities and
its challenges,” Adams said.
President of the Organization
of DeKalb Educators David Schut-
ten said that he thought Culver was
the strongest candidate because he
seemed to be the most knowledgeable
of the problems the county is facing.
“He had done his research
about the county and gave in-depth,
thoughtful answers. I think he sees
that it’s about more than just the test
scores,” Schutten said.
“I thought Davis didn’t go in-
depth enough and gave too many
sound bytes; I’m not looking for peo-
ple who can give good sound bytes,
I’m looking for someone who can go
to work and make some tough deci-
sions,” he said.
After each candidate finished
speaking, those attending the forum
were asked to fill out an evaluation
form. The forms were then collected
A Section • Page 13A
Continued From Page 1A
for consideration by the school board
during its selection process.
Board Chairman Tom Bowen
said that, now, the next step is for the
board to begin deliberations on each
candidate based on formal interview
questions and public feedback.
“When we developed a profile
we said there are a variety of key
characteristics that we we’re looking
for. Well, all the candidates are going
to have those characteristics in dif-
ferent quantities and the question is,
‘Who has the overall best package?’”
Bowen said.
“We’ve got to make the best
choice for where we think DeKalb
is today and where we’re going and
[where] the resources [are] that we
most urgently need,” he said.
EducatioN
Dr. Tarah Hadley shows her parrot to students at the Flat Shoals Elementary career day. Photo by Daniel Beauregard
Exotic vet gives students something to ‘squawk’ about
by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
Students lined up in front
of the stage at Flat Shoals
Elementary on March 30,
eagerly awaiting a chance
to come face-to-face with
a chinchilla, a snake, a par-
rot, a turtle and a bearded
dragon.
However, there was no
need to panic; the school
wasn’t being overrun by
wild creatures from the
jungle, it was just Dr. Tarah
Hadley and her exotic ani-
mals.
Hadley, an avian and ex-
otics veterinarian, was one
of 35 professionals who pre-
sented at the school’s career
day.
“It’s important for
students to know the dif-
ferent careers out there,”
said Chavonne O’Rear,
guidance counselor at Flat
Shoals. O’Rear said that the
career day is a way for kids
to realize that they can do
what they love and get paid
for it too.
“I want the kids to ask
questions like, ‘I love ani-
mals. How can I work with
animals?’ ‘How can I do
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011
these things I enjoy and get
paid for it and make it my
career?’” she said.
Each group of students
took its turn visiting Hadley
on the stage, and she went
around to each animal, de-
scribing what it was and
how she worked with it.
Then, at the end of the dem-
onstration she asked each
class, “Which animal would
you most like to pet?”
The younger students all
asked to pet the small turtle,
which she kept in a box
filled with grass, but as the
older classes began to cycle
through, more and more of
them opted for the snake.
“This is Melvin,” Had-
ley said as she pulled a
medium-sized red and black
milk snake out of a mesh
container. “Now line up and
I’ll come around and let
each of you touch him…you
don’t have to if you don’t
want to.”
As the students lined
up to pet “Melvin the Milk
Snake” some of the girls
stuck out their tongues and
refused to touch him, oth-
ers reached their hand out,
hesitantly, and barely laid
a finger on him as Hadley
Page 14A
walked by with the snake Hadley said she has al- was that they can do any-
around her neck. ways had a connection with thing they want, the doors to
Principal Keith Reyn- animals but didn’t become the future are wide open for
olds said that this gives the a vet until later in her life. them.
students a more “hands on” Had someone like herself “I want kids not to be
chance to experience some come to visit her school afraid to try anything, to
of the things they are learn- when she was younger, she have the courage to try any-
ing about in class. said, things might have been thing; it doesn’t matter to
“Learning has so many a bit different. me what they do… [as long
different avenues and ven- The main thing that Had- as they] know that they can
ues and we want to captivate ley wanted the kids to take do anything they want…
the kids and get them inter- away from their experience even if it seems hard,” she
ested in a variety of things,” with her and the animals said.
Reynolds said. “This is the
first time that Dr. Tarah has
been here, but the kids seem
to be very excited about vet-
erinary medicine and she’s
brought a few creatures with
her so it’s been a good expe-
rience.”
While the last student
petted the snake and wan-
dered off stage, Hadley ex-
plained why visiting schools
was so important to both her
and the children.
“I think it’s important for
kids to see something dif-
ferent…a lot of them prob-
ably don’t know that there’s
a veterinarian for dolphins
and a veterinarian for zoo
animals,” she said. “It’s im-
portant for them to see that
there’s more than one thing
to do [within] a career.”
buSiNESS
Two Avondale favorites come back with a bang
Kelly Lynch, manager and lead pastry chef at Sweet-N-Sinful, prepares for the bakery’s reopening at
its new location on Pine Street. Photos by Kathy Mitchell
Our Way owner Eve Roswall reviews photos taken shortly after the 2010 fire that forced the popular
restaurant to close for more than a year. It reopened April 4.
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011 Page 15A
by Kathy Mitchell
kathy@dekalbchamp.com
Folks who’re in Avondale Estates when hunger strikes will
be glad to know that two old favorite restaurants—Sweet-N-
Sinful and Our Way Café—are reopening and taking their eat-
eries to another level.
Sweet-N-Sinful
The Sweet-N-Sinful bakery didn’t close completely—only
the retail business and that for just three days—as it moved
down the street into a new, larger location. “We were still fill-
ing orders,” said owner Layne Lee, who explained that the
shop’s specialty is unique custom-designed cakes and confec-
tions.
“We had a podiatrist order a cake shaped like a foot and re-
cently we had someone who wanted a kangaroo, complete with
pouch and baby,” she recalled. Lee said the bakery has more
than 300 cookie-cutter shapes and can make custom cookies
for about any occasion. She said that while some custom items
could get a bit pricey, there are lots of regular items at competi-
tive prices—$1.95 cupcakes and $1 cookies, for example.
The business, which opened in Stone Mountain in 2004 and
has been in Avondale Estates since 2006, outgrew its old space
in the city’s Tudor Village as it continued doing a booming
business despite a slumping economy. The new space on Pine
Street—formerly a paint supply house—is 2½ times the size of
the old one. “People are still having weddings and birthdays, so
there’s still a big demand for what we do,” Lee said.
Following the grand opening on April 2, the shop will have
some new breakfast offerings when the retail shop is open
Thursday through Saturday. “We’ll have coffee and items
like cheddar cheese muffins for people who don’t really want
sweets,” Lee said.
Lee, who has a 7-month-old child, describes the shop as
kid-friendly. “We’ll be having events like kids’ decorating par-
ties. We’re super excited,” she said.
Our Way Café
After a year and three months of insurance negotiations,
paperwork and physical rebuilding, Avondale Estates’ popular
meat-and-three Our Way Café reopened April 4 with longer
hours, patio space and something it’s never had before—a beer
and wine license.
The dining room will look very different, too, according to
owner Eve Roswall. “Before we looked like a Cracker Bar-
rel gone wild,” she said with a laugh, referring to the copious
collection of memorabilia on the walls and even hanging from
the ceiling. This time there will be old photos of Decatur and
Avondale Estates, including one taken in 1932 of the old gen-
eral store that was just down the from where Our Way now
stands. There also will be paintings by local artists that will be
offered for sale on consignment.
Long time Our Way customers will be pleased to learn
that the menu will be basically the same—a selection of four
entrees and 18 meat-free vegetables every day. Roswall said
she’s especially proud of the restaurant’s fresh, locally grown
vegetables. “We were offering farm-to-table back in 1992, long
before it got trendy,” she said.
While the restaurant welcomes children anytime, Roswall
said, she plans to open the restaurant once a month on Satur-
day—a day it’s normally closed—just for children and their
parents, with clowns, face painting and perhaps a movie. She
said that Our Way had such a children’s day shortly before an
electrical fire forced the restaurant to close in January 2010.
“We played the movie The Wizard of Oz and even had an actor
who played one of the Munchkins—he was in his 90s—come
by. We went from our most fabulous day to our worst day—the
day of the fire.”
Roswall said that her past success left no doubt in her mind
that she would rebuild and reopen in spite of the extensive
damage. “I’m thrilled. The food is here, the catsup is on the
table. I’m ready to feed the people.”
Page 16A
AROUND
ATLANTA
Republican women to meet
The North DeKalb Republican
Women will meet at the DeKalb Re-
publican Party Headquarters, 3583-
G Chamblee Tucker Road (Embry
Hills Shopping Village), at 10 a.m.
on Saturday, April 9. The guest
speaker will be Tara Hassell Dor-
man, who will speak on life after
prison. The public is invited.
The NDRW is a non-profit orga-
nization involved in public service,
working with the USO, Ronald Mc-
Donald House, the V.A Hospital and
local schools.
The NDRW is currently collect-
ing diapers for the families of U.S.
military. Those who would like to
contribute should bring the diapers
to the DeKalb GOP Headquarters
on any meeting date or when the
office is open on Tuesdays and
Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
For more information, contact
Wyolene Richardson at (770) 491-
8708.
SweetWater now a three-day fes-
tival
The annual SweetWater 420
Fest in its seventh year is adding
a third day. From Friday, April 15,
through Sunday, April 17, the multi-
day, Earth-inspired celebration is
offering more music, larger stages,
new partners, art and a variety of
brews. In addition to the music line-
up, the festival will feature a variety
of eco-friendly and environmentally
themed onsite events and activities
suitable for all ages. New this year
is the Relapse 420 Comedy Tent.
Film crews will canvass the crowd
recording jokes to replay in the
tent. Improv workshops will also
be offered during the day for all
ages to attend. For adult entertain-
ment, Dad’s Garage and Relapse
Theater, along with other popular
ATL comics, are performing each
evening.
The festival will be in Candler
Park in east Atlanta. Hours are
Friday, 4:20 to 10 p.m.; Saturday,
noon to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:30
to 7 p.m. Admission is free, how-
ever, those choosing to purchase
alcohol must pay $5 for a wristband
that establishes that they are older
than 21. A portion of proceeds from
wristband sales will be donated
to park improvement. For more
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011
information, visit www.sweetwater-
420fest.com.
Concert to have Asian theme
Echoes of Asia will be the theme
as Emory World Music Ensembles
perform in a free concert Sunday,
April 17, at 7 p.m., under the direc-
tion of Tong Soon Lee. The Emory
World Music Ensembles program
was formed in fall 2007 as a part of
the ethnomusicology curriculum in
the Music Department. Taught by
Emory faculty and artist affiliates
from the Atlanta community, the en-
sembles comprise Emory students
across different disciplines and
schools, and perform frequently
within and outside Emory. This con-
cert features all six ensembles per-
forming a range of genres from the
North Indian, South Indian, Japa-
nese, Korean and Chinese musical
traditions. The event will be held at
the Performing Arts Studio, 1804
N. Decatur Road, Atlanta. For more
information, call (404) 727-5050, e-
mail boxoffice@emory.edu, or visit
www.arts.emory.edu.
DECATUR
Theater and film camps scheduled
PushPush Theater, located in
East Decatur Station, is currently ac-
cepting enrollment for June and July
summer theater camps. The camps
will focus on a classic text and will
use theater, film and improvisation
to enhance participants’ imagination,
communication, confidence and col-
laboration skills. To commemorate
the 100th anniversary of Tennessee
Williams’ birth, this year’s program
will include an adaptation of one of
his classic works. Each camp will cul-
minate in a public performance.
The first camp is scheduled from
June 13 – July 1; the second camp
will be July 11–July 29. Seperate
camps will be held for age groups 8
-12 and for teens 13 years and older.
For additional information visit
www.pushpushtheater.com or email
pushpushtheater@gmail.com.
Soil and water conservation meet-
ing scheduled
The DeKalb County Soil and
Water Conservation District monthly
meeting will be held on Friday, April
8, at 10 a.m. at the Clark Harrison
Building, 330 W. Ponce de Leon
DEKALB
Ave., Decatur. For additional infor-
mation call (770) 761-3020.
Pet event to focus on awareness,
adoption
DeKalb County District Robert
James, Reps. Stephanie Stuckey
Benfield, Michele Henson and
Mary Margaret Oliver will join a
host of community partners for the
third annual Paws For The Cause.
The community awareness event
will be on Saturday, April 9, at the
DeKalb Square, 101 East Court
Square in downtown Decatur.
Starting at 10 a.m. and ending
at 2 p.m., Paws For The Cause is a
collaborative effort with Partnership
with Animal Action Rescue, Village
Vets, DeKalb County Animal Servic-
es & Enforcement, DeKalb County
District Attorney’s Office and other
groups to combat crimes against
animals by increasing awareness
around issues of animal neglect and
cruelty.
The event will include live music,
food vendors, moonwalks, agility/
frisbee performances and more. An
on-site veterinarian will administer
low-cost immunizations and $20 mi-
crochipping. Animal Action Rescue
and DeKalb Animal Services, Village
Vets & Enforcement will have pup-
pies and dogs available for adoption.
“Protecting animals from cruel
and neglectful behavior is one of my
top priorities,” said James. “These
partnerships and this outreach event
are essential to combating animal
cruelty in our community and pro-
moting animal adoption.”
For more information, contact
Clarissa Brown at cjbrown@dekal-
bcountyga.gov or (404) 371-4961.
DORAVILLE
Book sale to feature ‘great
bargains’
The Friends of the Doraville Li-
brary are having a book sale April
16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Doraville
Library. Organization officials say
there will be “great bargains” in
paperbacks, hardbacks, CDs and
DVDs for children and adults.
Hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and
drinks will be sold by the Doraville
Business Association to benefit the
FODL and the Doraville Library.
Book donations for the sale are
welcome at the library any time it’s
open. The Doraville Library is locat-
www.championnewspaper.com
ed at 3748 Central Ave., Doraville.
For more information, call (770)
936-3852 or (770) 263-0262.
OAKHURT
Earth Day event announced
The Decatur community will cel-
ebrate Earth Day Sunday, April 17,
2:30 - 4 p.m. at the Oakhurst Com-
munity Garden Project. Presented
by Latham Home Sanitation, the
event begins with the Earth Friendly
Parade, which starts at Harmony
Park in the center of the Oakhurst
Business District. Visitors are invited
to join the Feed and Seed Marching
Abominable Band and decorate a
bike, wagon, stroller or themselves
and march in the parade that will
open the festival. There will be a
cake contest, crafts for the children,
a raptor show, food vendors, the
community pavilion, live music and
more.
This year’s event features more
than 30 Earth-friendly vendors and
non-profits in the Community Pa-
vilion, including the City of Decatur
Recycling Trailer and a Community
Phone Book Recycling Project. For
more information and a complete
schedule, visit www.oakhurstgarden.
org.
STONE
MOUNTAIN
Judge Rosh to speak at PRISM
meeting
Pride Rings In Stone Mountain
has announced that Probate Judge
Jeryl Debra Rosh will speak Thurs-
day, April 14, 7 – 9 p.m. at St. Timo-
thy United Methodist Church. She
has served as judge of the Probate
Court of DeKalb County since Janu-
ary 2005 and will speak on estate
planning in DeKalb County, how
guardians of both children and adults
are appointed, mental health con-
cerns and the law, little known facts
of the legal system and more. St.
Timothy United Methodist Church
is located at 5365 Memorial Dr.,
Stone Mountain. For further informa-
tion, contact State Representative
Michele Henson, program chair, at
(404) 296-1442 or michelehenson@
earthlink.net
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011 Page 17A

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SPoRtS
100 meter hurdles winner Jessika Banks
of Dunwoody. Photos provided
On the right track
Dunwoody gets lift from first boys county title
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
One team did what it was ex-
pected to do and another team did
what it had never done.
Still, the winners of the recent
DeKalb County Track Champion-
ship were linked by a common
bond—teamwork.
The Dunwoody boys earned
their first county track title on the
strength of five first-place finishes.
The Wildcats scored points in 13 of
16 events and had two athletes place
in four events. Southwest DeKalb’s
girls team, the defending county and
state Class AAAA champion, won
their fifth straight county track title
and sixth in the past seven years.
The Panthers won three events and
had two place in eight events.
[It was] definitely a surprise to
win but it was a total team effort,”
said Dunwoody boys coach Brad
Hendrickson. “That’s what I’m
most proud of. Everyone worked
together and just tried to put points
on the board.”
The Wildcats unseated defend-
ing champion Southwest DeKalb,
which finished second, 95-71. Two
Dunwoody runners each won two
events—Dazel Claytor won the
100 and 200 meters while James
Dwyer finished first in the 1600 and
3200. Dunwoody’s other first-place
finish was earned by Kuaniyal
Chol in the 800.
Southwest’s Malcolm Brock
was the only participant to win three
events—the 300 hurdles, high jump
and triple jump.
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011
Madeline Wetterhall of Chamblee, from
left, and Greciana Cooper of Southwest
DeKalb try to keep pace with winner
Meghan Wetterhall of Lakeside during
the 1600 meter run.
The Wildcats hope to use the
momentum gained from winning
the county title to help prepare
for the upcoming region and state
meets. Dunwoody moved up from
Class AAA last season and joined
Region 6-AAAA. It will see most
of the same teams—with the excep-
tion of Mays, Carver Atlanta and
Douglass—in the region meet April
18-21.
“This gives us a lot of confi-
dence going into the region meet,”
Hendrickson said. “We’ve fared
well in AAA but this is a whole dif-
ferent game up here [in AAAA].
We’ve got a large team with a lot of
hard-working athletes.”
Kyle Sexton gave the Wildcats
a boost with a third-place finish in
the 3200 and Josiah Terrell-Perica
finished third in the discus with a
personal best throw 140-6.5.
In the girls meet, Morgan Snow
won both the 100 hurdles and the
triple jump. The Panthers’ only
other first-place finisher was Kenya
Snow in the shot put.
Two other athletes were double
winners in the girls meet. Meghan
Wetterhall of Lakeside won the
1600 and the 3200. Also, Jada
Martin of M.L. King won the 100
and 200 to help the Lions finish
second in the team standings behind
the Panthers.
Lakeside’s Carla LaRotta set a
county record in the pole vault, win-
ning the event with an effort of 9-3.
County Track Champion-
ships results
Team Standings (top five)
Page 18A
Marlon Coley (Cedar Grove), from left, Greg Terrell (Cedar Grove), winner Dazel
Claytor (Dunwoody) and Jonathan Norris (Miller Grove) drive for the finish line in the
100 meters.
Boys: 1. Dunwoody, 95; 2. South-
west DeKalb 71; 3. Tucker, 66; 4.
Cedar Grove, 58; 5. Redan, 48.
Girls: 1. Southwest DeKalb, 105;
2. M.L. King, 83; 3. Redan 65; 4.
Chamblee 62; 5. Cedar Grove 61.
Boys Champions
100: Dazel Claytor, Dunwoody,
10.92; 200: Dazel Clator, Dun-
woody, 22.18; 400: Tammarick
Johnson, Stone Mountain, 48.97;
800: Kuaniyal Chol, Dunwoody,
1:59.29; 1600: James Dwyer,
Dunwoody, 4:24.30; 3200: James
Dwyer, Dunwoody, 9:41.74; 110
hurdles: B.J. Burney, M.L. King,
15.01; 300 hurdles: Malcolm
Brock, Southwest DeKalb, 40.02; Jada Martin, left, of M.L. King won the
200 meters and teammate Felicia Brown
4x100 relay: Cedar Grove; 4x400 placed second.
relay: Cedar Grove; high jump:
Malcolm Brock, Southwest DeKalb, 3200: Meghan Wetterhall, Lakeside,
6-4; pole vault: Jeff Jernigan, 11:24.59; 110 hurdles: Morgan
Chamblee, 13-0; long jump: Dia- Snow, Southwest DeKalb, 14.36;
vonte Smith, Redan, 22-3.75; triple 300 hurdles: Jessica Banks, Dun-
jump: Malcolm Brock, Southwest woody, 44.63; 4x100 relay: M.L.
DeKalb, 45-4.50; shot put: Antonio
King; 4x400 relay: M.L. King; high
Kohn, Clarkston, 49-10; discus: jump: Jalissa Terrell, M.L. King,
Alex Dyer, Redan, 142-10. 5-6; pole vault: Carla LaRotta,
Lakeside, 9-3; long jump: Tiffany
Girls Champions Flynn, Miller Grove, 18-5; triple
100: Jada Martin, M.L. King, jump: Morgan Snow, Southwest
12.15; 200: Jada Martin, M.L. King,
DeKalb, 37-3; shot put: Kenya
24.46; 400: Felicia Brown, M.L. Wheeler, Southwest DeKalb, 37-6;
King, 57.6; 800: Kayla Pryor, Ce- discus: Shannon Williams, Towers,
dar Grove, 2:19.99; 1600: Meghan 124-4.
Wetterhall, Lakeside, 5:13.84;
www.championnewspaper.com
2011 All-County Basketball Team
Underclassmen make presence known among county’s best
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
Prolific scorers and a group
of talented juniors highlight The
Champion Newspaper’s boys and
girls 2011 all-county basketball
teams. Three of the seniors on the
list already have signed college
basketball scholarships, including
girls player of the year Jasmine
Camp of Chamblee. The senior
guard will attend Stanford Uni-
versity next season.
Boys player of the year Tony
Parker of Miller Grove highlights
a solid junior class. Of the 20
players chosen, nine are juniors.
Here is a look at The Cham-
pion’s top 10 boys and girls bas-
ketball players for 2010-11.
THE CHAMPION 2011 ALL-
COUNTY BASKETBALL
TEAMS
GIRLS
F Queen Alford, Decatur, 5-8,
Sr.
Alford is effective either driving
to the basket or shooting from the
perimeter. She leaves Decatur as
one of its most prolific scorers in
school history. Alford had a sea-
son-high of 48 points, and had at
least 20 points in 17 games. She
scored 30 or more five times.
C Aneesah Daniels, Redan, 6-0,
Sr.
The University of Alabama signee
averaged 14.7 points and 10.9 re-
bounds per game. Daniels showed
great strength close to the basket
and made 54 percent of her field
goal attempts. She surpassed the
1,000-point mark for her career
this season.
G Zuri Frost, Columbia, 5-3, Jr.
A starter for the second season in
a row, Frost proved to be one of
the best all-around point guards
in the county. She averaged 10.6
points per game on a team that
shared the basketball, led the
county with 121 assists and was
second in DeKalb with 130 steals.
G Olivia Gibbs, Southwest
DeKalb, 5-10, Jr.
The junior became one of the floor
leaders after the graduation of eight
Panther seniors a year ago. Gibbs
led the Panthers in scoring, aver-
aging 13.8 points per game and
scored 27 points or more in a game
twice.
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011
Player of the Year
Girls
G Jasmine Camp, Chamblee, 5-8, Sr.
The Stanford University signee became
a more complete guard this season
while leading the Bulldogs to the team’s
first undefeated regular season in school
history. Camp averaged 10.8 points per
game, averaged 46 percent shooting
from the field and was fifth in the county
with 81 assists. She had a season-high
23 points against Miller Grove.
G Katrice Harris, McNair, 5-6, Sr.
Harris led the county in scoring at
18 points per game and was among
the top shooters in the area. She
was second in field goals attempted
with 257 and second in accuracy,
making 57 percent.
C Jen Heider, Marist, 6-3, Sr.
One of the most prolific scorers
in Marist history, Heider ended
her career with more than 1,500
points. She averaged 19.3 points
and eight rebounds this season and
has signed a basketball scholarship
with Bucknell University.
F Terri Jacobs, Cedar Grove, 5-9 Jr.
Jacobs was a force on defense,
leading the county in rebounding
(14.5 per game) and blocks (76 on
the season). She also proved to be
a solid scorer, with a good short
jumper, and averaged 12.6 points
per game.
G Lucy Mason, Chamblee, 5-6, Jr.
Mason was one of many weapons
on a very athletic team. She aver-
aged 16.5 points per game to lead
the Bulldogs in scoring and was
Boys
C Tony Parker, Miller Grove, 6-8 Jr.
Parker is a dominating presence who
developed into one of the top post
players in the state. He led the county
by averaging 15.5 rebounds per game
had had at least 20 rebounds in six
games. He scored an average of 17.5
points per game, was second in the
county with 125 blocks and shot 58
percent from the field.
among the best shooting guards in
the state, making 56 percent of her
shots.
G Kierra Paige, Redan, 5-7 Sr.
Paige is among the best long-range
shooters in metro Atlanta. She av-
eraged 15.4 points per game and
led the county in 3-point shooting
(61 of 137 for 45 percent). Paige
reached the 1,000-point milestone
for her career in January.
BOYS
F Henry Brooks, Miller Grove,
6-8, Sr.
Parker’s frontcourt mate, Brooks
has signed a basketball scholarship
to attend the University of Penn-
sylvania. Solid on both ends of the
floor, Brooks scored a season-high
21 points against Tucker and aver-
aged six rebounds per game.
C William Goodwin, Southwest
DeKalb, 6-8, Jr.
Goodwin is garnering interest from
schools across the country and
already has several offers, includ-
Page 19A
ing Georgia and UCLA. He has
surpassed 1,000 points in his career
and averaged 18 points and 10.1
rebounds per game.
G Trumon Jefferson, Decatur,
6-1, Sr.
Jefferson was the engine that got
the Bulldogs offense going this
season. He averaged nearly 20
points per game and showed great
versatility on the floor as he could
score from the perimeter and drive
to the basket.
G Algie Key, Columbia, 6-4, Sr.
A transfer from Lakeside, Key was
instrumental in helping the Eagles
win their second straight Class
AAA state title. He averaged 5.8
assists per game and had the ability
to score when needed, twice reach-
ing 20 points in a game.
F Brandon Morris, Miller Grove,
6-7, Jr.
Morris averaged 7.7 rebounds per
game and showed a knack for big
plays on offense and defense in
clutch situations. He has scholar-
ship offers from Clemson, Georgia
and Auburn.
G Keenan Palmore, Paideia, 6-2, Jr.
Palmore is always a threat in tran-
sition and can hold his own close
to the basket. Palmore scored at
least 30 points in a game three
times and had numerous double-
doubles while leading the Pythons
to the Class A state playoffs.
G Jordan Price, Southwest
DeKalb, 6-5, Sr.
The solid shooter already has offers
from Georgia and Georgia Tech.
Price led the Panthers in scoring at
19.1 points per game and shot 53
percent while taking 328 shots, the
second-most in the county.
G Tahj Shamsid-Deen, Colum-
bia, 5-8, So.
A solid floor general, Shamsid-
Deen led the county in assists (289)
and three-point shooting (28 of 47
for 60 percent). He also was sec-
ond in the county in steals (98) and
led the Eagles in scoring, averaging
12.9 points a game.
G Jonathan Tinch, Stephenson,
6-2, Sr.
Tinch was second in the county
this season averaging 20.1 points
a game and had a season-high 41
points against Campbell. He scored
at least 30 points four times and
reached double digits in both points
and rebounds in four games.
Page 20A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 8, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com

Chris Epps, Clemson (baseball):

The senior outfielder from Dun-
woody had two hits, two RBIs and
scored three runs in the Tigers’ 11-5
win over Georgia on March 29. Epps
has started in all but one game for
the Tigers this season and had a
.296 batting average with five home
runs and 16 RBIs through the Geor-
gia game.

Jasmin Riley, Alabama A&M (soft-

ball): The sophomore catcher from
Southwest DeKalb broke a 4-4 tie
with a bases loaded, two-RBI sin-
gles in the ninth innings to give the
Bulldogs a 6-4 win over Mississippi
Valley State on March 29. Riley also
hit her sixth home run of the season
earlier in the game. She is batting
.476 with 16 RBIs.

Legendary encounter
Hudson Randall, Florida (baseball):
The sophomore pitcher from Dun-
woody leads the Gators’ pitching
staff in several categories this sea-
son. Randall is 4-0 in six starts with
McNair basketball player Tyrone Patterson enjoys a light-hearted moment with basketball legend and a 0.66 earned run average. He has
retired Atlanta Hawks star Dominique Wilkins at the Powerade Pros 3-on-3 invitational basketball allowed only three earned runs and
tournament held recently in Atlanta. Wilkins spoke to the players about life on and off the court. one walk in 40 2/3 innings pitched,
Photo by Johnny Crawford, courtesy of Coca-Cola North America with 25 strikeouts.