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remove the board members. Jester, Pamela A. Speaks and The probation triggered enforceThe harm from the loss of acEugene P. Walkerwere removed ment of a state law that allows the creditation to the school district and Feb. 25 by Deal on the unanimous governor to remove school boards the resulting harm to the students recommendation of the Georgia threatened with loss of accreditation in the district are profound, Story Board of Education (GBOE). due to school board governance stated in a court document. To perIn December, the DeKalb related reasons. mit the board members to continue County Board of Education was The interest of the public in a to serverisks substantial conseplaced on accreditation probation by healthy system outweighs the interquences for the school district and herSouthern Association from the The Champion. ests of board members in serving in Because she gets news updates online of Colleges its students. Because she gets her and Schools (SACS),fromagency Champion. news updates online the the The their positions, Story stated. The board membersSarah that accredits the school district The judge acknowledged the Copelin-Wood, Jesse Jay Cunthrough its parent company, AdSee Judge on Page 13A ningham, Donna Elder, Nancy vancED.
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Approximately 90 student from the Latin American Associations after-school program at Sequoyah Middle School attended the exhibit at the High featuring the work of Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Photos by Daniel Beauregard
achievement gap and help children struggling in school. The program now meets three times a week and students receive tutoring, mentoring and cultural enrichment. There is also a summer program. Recently, LAA hired a high school program manager who will help the students in the eight grade at Sequoyah transition to Cross Keys. Teacher Oscar Gonzalez said he has been preparing his students for their visit to the High by discussing with them the cultural and historic context that both artists were working in at the time. The exhibit, titled Frida and Diego: Passion, Politics and Painting focuses on a range of periods in the revolutionary artists lives.
I told them what they could expect and what was going on historically, such as the Mexican Revolution, Gonzalez said. Gonzalez said he also discussed the meaning identity with his students and asked them to think about what it means to be Latin American. Kahlos father was a German who traveled to Mexico in the late 1800s, and her mother was of American Indian descent. Riveras mother was a converso, a Jew whose ancestors had been forced to convert to Catholicism. Although both artists were born in Mexico, they came from diverse backgrounds and Gonzalez said he discussed with his students why their background is important, and why it is
Students from Sequoyah Middle School stand in front of Atlantas High Museum of Art.
important to not focus too much on race but more on identity. Sequoyah student Ashley Garcia said she had been looking forward to seeing the exhibit because she thought it would help her become
more immersed in the arts. Its about politics and passion and its important because of how we express ourselves and were proud of who we are. I want to show how I think and how I see the world, Garcia said.
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Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), British aristocrat, philosopher, historian and social critics. I was born in DeKalb County, educated in our public schools, and graduated from Lakeside High School. Im among thousands who graduated from the DeKalb County School District during its glory days. So it is hard not to look at the current quagmire enveloping the leadership of the system with a mix of pity, despair and disgust. How does a school system, with annual revenues approaching $1 billion, with nearly 100,000 students and so many things going for it get so screwed up? The DeKalb County School District is facing multiple challenges, many of them are real, some are reversible, and some are trends outside of the systems control. Still having a daughter currently enrolled in the system, I can say that I regularly witness or hear about a
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Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Send E-Mail to Kathy@dekalbchamp.com FAX To: (404) 370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779 Deadline for news releases and advertising: Thursday, one week prior to publication date. EDITORS NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily reect the opinions of the editor or publishers. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. The Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
Publisher: Dr. Earl D. Glenn Managing Editor: Kathy Mitchell News Editor: Andrew Cauthen Production Manager: Kemesha Hunt Graphic Designer: Travis Hudgons The Champion Free Press is published each Friday by ACE III Communications, Inc., 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030 Phone (404) 373-7779.
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We sincerely appreciate the discussion surrounding this and any issue of interest to DeKalb County. The Champion was founded in 1991 expressly to provide a forum for discourse for all community residents on all sides of an issue. We have no desire to make the news only to report news and opinions to effect a more educated citizenry that will ultimately move our community forward. We are happy to present ideas for discussion; however, we make every effort to avoid printing information submitted to us that is known to be false and/or assumptions penned as fact.
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Lisa Y. Kinnemore
some of the different problems that are going on and more of an in-depth opportunity to see where I can be of help. Kinnemore and her husband Garry have three sons, Kristopher an electrician; Joshua a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology; and Jonathan a student at Georgia State University and in the Army Reserves. A homeschooling family for 15 years, Kinnemore said that experience will help her role on GBOE because she believes all kids, regardless of the educationwhether public school, charter school or homeschoolcan advance to do well in life. Kinnemore said she wants to engage community members to hear what concerns they have and take those back to GBOE. My ears are here and my heart is open, she said. In addition to GBOE, Kinnemore volunteers for a homeless shelter, the DeKalb GOP and Truth Tabernacle of Praise in Stone Mountain. She was on the board of Northeast Independent Preparatory Academy for five years. She attends Briarlake Baptist Church. A DeKalb County native, Kinnemore was the seventh of nine children of Johnny and Catherine Carr. She graduated from Chamblee High School and attended West Georgia College before transferring to Georgia State University where she earned her bachelors degree in political science. Upon graduating, she worked in sales and as an account manager for various companies before deciding to leave the workplace to raise her boys. In 2012, Kinnemore made an unsuccessful bid as a Republican for the state house District 86 seat against incumbent Democrat Michelle Henson. Kinnemore said she pursues community involvement to help those who are in need of help and to become personally familiar with people in the area so that I can help them meet need that I can help with.
When the Georgia Board of Education (GBOE) recently voted unanimously to recommend to Gov. Nathan Deal to remove six members of the DeKalb school board members, Stone Mountains own Lisa Y. Kinnemore was there. Kinnemore, who was appointed by Deal in February to the state board, said the position gives her the opportunity to represent not just the kids that are educated in public schools, but those in the homeschool and charter school arena. The 14-hour GBOE meeting gave Kinnemore an opportunity to hear
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.
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AVONDALE ESTATES
AROUNDDEKALB
writing coach Wayne Smith. Limit works to 500 words or five minutes of reading time. All readings must be appropriate for family audiences. The 2-3 p.m. event is opened to the first 20 participants. No registration required. Brookhaven library is at 1242 N. Druid Hills Road, NE in Atlanta. For more information, call (404) 848-7140.
Pug Meet and Greet to be held at Second Life Pugs and pugs mixes looking for a home will be available for a Meet and Greet Saturday, March 9, at Second Life Upscale Resale in Avondale Estates. Dog lovers can meet the dogs noon4 p.m. All dogs are up for adoption through Southeast Pug Rescue & Adoption. Second Life is an upscale resale store that was created with the mission of giving homeless pets a second chance at life. Second Life Upscale Resale is located at 1 N. Clarendon Avenue. For more information, visit www. secondlifeatlanta.org.
DECATUR
Decatur Active Living to host Touch-a-Truck Children of all ages can to touch, explore and see their favorite trucks or equipment on wheels at the annual Touch-a-Truck event on Saturday, March 9, in Decatur. The 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. event will feature city of Decatur and DeKalb County dump trucks, fire trucks, tractors, police cars and motorcycles and many other types of vehicles will be on display. Touch-a-Truck takes place in the Callaway Building Parking lot located at 120 West Trinity Place. In case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for Saturday, April 20. For more information, contact Cheryl Burnette at (678) 553-6541 or cheryl. burnette@decaturga.com. Author to give lecture on Churchill Author Michael Shelden will give a lecture at the Decatur Library Wednesday, March 13, 7:15-9 p.m., about his new book, Young Titan: The Making of Winston Churchill, an exploration of Churchills life between 1901 and 1915. Pulitzer Prize-winner Jon Meacham calls it a memorable portrait of Churchills life and loves in this period. Shelden, who teaches at Indiana State University, is a former writer for the London Daily Telegraph and the author of four honored biographies, including Mark Twain: Man in White and Orwell: The Authorized Biography. Decatur Library is located at 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur. For more information, call (404) 370-3070. Basketball game to raise funds for brain injury clubhouse The GFWC Stone Mountain Womans Club and the GFWC Lilburn Womans Club are again helping to sponsor a family-oriented fundraising event for Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse in Stone Mountain. The lawyers (Jawbones) will challenge last years basketball game winning doctors (Sawbones) on Saturday, March 16, at the Decatur High School gym for bragging rights for a full year. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. Last years event raised more than $20,000, all of which went to the programs at Side by Side. A silent auction will be added to the festivities this year.
At Side by Side Clubhouse people living with the lifelong effects of traumatic brain injury go from being medical patients to living full and satisfying life, according to a statement from the sponsoring organizations. To purchase tickets or to learn more about the Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse, visit www.sidebysideclubhouse. org or contact Marian Dickson, Side by Sides resource development director, at marian@sidebyside.org or at (770) 469-9355. Bluegrass Evening to be fundraiser for the library system
ATLANTA
Carlos Museum to honor contributions of Michael Graves The Michael C. Carlos Museum celebrates the 20th anniversary of the 1993 expansion designed by famed architect Michael Graves, paying tribute to his direct and lasting contribution to Emory University. Graves will serve as honorary chairman of the museums signature annual fundraiser, Veneralia, to be held on Saturday, March 16. When Graves agreed to come to Emory in the early 1980s to design the renovation of a historic campus building, it was considered an architectural coup, according to a statement from the university. One of the New York Five, Graves was a rising superstar in architecture and design. What followed was a long and fruitful relationship between Graves and the Carlos Museum, leading to a 1993 addition, several gallery renovations, and multiple visits and creative conversations about the museums facility and future. Winner of a National AIA Honor Award, Graves projects for the Carlos Museum involved historic preservation and adaptive re-use of a landmark law school designed by Henry Hornbostel in 1916. Graves commented, I am pleased to return to Emory University and the Carlos Museum. Its a joy to see firsthand how this institution continues to play an important role within the University and the larger Atlanta community in the same way that the building contributes to the character of Hornbostels historic quadrangle.
An evening of pickin and prose awaits those attending Bluegrass Evening at the Decatur Library on Saturday, March 9, 7-10:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit DeKalb County Public Library. The evening will include Bridge Caterings Southern fixins shrimp and grits, fried chicken, cornbread, collards with smoked turkey, berry tarts and Kentucky buttercakea silent auction, with items that include four passes to Disney World in Orlando, Fla.; an opportunity to meet and mingle with Southern authors Joshilyn Jackson and Karen White and a concert by Atlanta bluegrass band Dappled Grays. Dappled Grays will perform original music played by vocalist and fiddler Leah Calvert, banjoist Greg Earnest, bassist Keith Morris, mandolinist Michael Smith and guitarist Casey Cook. Named best bluegrass band in Atlanta by Creative Loafing magazine, this American bluegrass band has released two albums, In the Gait and Doin My Job. Most recently, the band scored several songs for the Clint Eastwood movie Trouble with the Curve. Jackson will sign copies of her books, including her recent book A Grown Up Kind of Pretty, and White also will sign copies of her books, including her latest work of Southern womens fiction, Sea Change. Tickets are $65 online at dekalblibrary.org/foundation or $75 at the door or send a check to the DeKalb Library Foundation. For more information, contact (404) 370-8450, ext. 2238 or foundation@dekalblibrary.org. Ken Ford Foundation to host Unity Concert Award-winning musician Ken Ford and the board of directors of The Ken Ford Foundation are joining forces with drummer Jorel JFly Flynn and How Big Is Your Dream? Foundation to host the second annual Unity Concert and fundraiser on Saturday, March 23, at The Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center. This concert will provide a platform where talented newcomers and professionals share the stage as they learn and practice major aspects of music diversity through live entertainment. Also, a teen gala called U-N-I-TY will be hosted by teens as a leadership project to design and implement all the aspects of concert
and event programming. The VIP reception and the teen gala start at 6 p.m.; the concert starts at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $35 in advance, $45 at the door; the VIP reception is $75 advance only; and the teen gala is $10. Proceeds from the concert will benefit programs and services offered by both foundations, including donation of musical instruments, mentorships, music advocacy and scholarships. The Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center is located at 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. For more information, visit www.howbigisyourdream.org and www.thekenfordfoundation.org.
Cafeteria to donate proceeds to help neighbor The Peach Cafeteria at 4437 Cowan Road in Tucker, just across from the burned out Handy Hardware, will have a fundraiser for Handys more than 30 displaced employees. On Friday, March 8, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Peach owners will donate 50 percent of the proceeds from all the food sales. To ask about the benefit details or the food, call the ladies at (770) 558-2166. Chili cook-off to benefit Rape Crisis Center The second annual Tucker Chili Cook-off to benefit the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center will be held Saturday, March 16. Sponsored by the Old Town Tucker Merchants Association, this years event is expected to be bigger than last years, which drew more than 3,000 guests. Guests can sample 75 different recipes of chili and listen to live music 1-5 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Tucker. The chili cook-off will be held rain or shine. Admission will be $5 per person at the gates. Official entrance gates will be located at Main and Railroad outside Local 7, and at Lynburn and Main outside Tucker Pet Supply. Volunteers are also needed to assist with the event. Those interested in volunteering at the event should email info@dekalbrapecrisiscenter. org. Those interested in participating as chili cook-off contestants should visit www.tuckerchilicookoff.com. For more information on the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center, visit www.dekalbrapecrisiscenter.org.
BROOKHAVEN
Library hosts writers forum with Wayne Smith Writers of every skill level can share their original creative writings at the Brookhaven library on Wednesday, March 13. Readings will be followed by audience feedback and discussion led by
Mullen said they have initiated discussion with the other cities about a fire department, but they have not received an official response from the cities. The next step will probably be to find a way over the next several months to perhaps set up times for meetings and start discussions, he said. Mullen added that the idea of a new fire department has nothing to do with the current services they are receiving from DeKalb County. There are three stations in Chamblee, and one each in Dunwoody and Brookhaven. I think it is about an opportunity for additional or enhanced service that led to the possibility of exploring a fire department, he said. DeKalb County Fire Chief Eddie OBrien said
he has heard about the discussion of a new fire department but is not aware of details. I dont know what their plan is or what theyre talking about, he said. He added that the county department works well with those cities and they havent received any complaints from them. We really provide a lot [of services] across the county, he said. Im anxious to hear what they may have and what their thoughts are. OBrien said if a new fire department is created he could lose some employees. If I had some that applied and they took them I would lose them, but they wouldnt just assume all of our people, he said. Theyre our employees.
TheMayorandCityCounciloftheCityofChamblee,Georgiawillholdapublichearingon Thursday,March14,2013,attheChambleeCivicCenter,3540BroadStreet,Chamblee,GA 30341at6:00p.m.toreceivepubliccommentsregardingthefollowingzoningmatters: 1) AppendixA,ZoningOrdinance,Section207,Plannedunitdevelopmentprocedure. ThesubjectpropertyisTurnburyGatessubdivision,locatedat2401JohnsonFerry Road.TheapplicantisrequestinganamendmenttothePlannedUnitDevelopmentto reducethetotalnumberofunitsandmakeminorsitemodifications. 2) Thesubjectpropertylocatedat5647PeachtreeBoulevard(formerPiccadillysite)is requestingthefollowingvariances:Section905,toallowmetalbuildingmaterials; Section1203,toallowingadditionalparkingspacesabovethemaximumpermitted; Section1201,toallowparkingbetweenthebuildingandthestreet;Sections1205and 1208,toconstructaparkingdeckwithoutrequiredlandscaping;andSections1101and 1102,toallowconstructionofasmallerbuffer. 3) Thesubjectpropertylocatedat5805PeachtreeBoulevard(existingautodealer)is requestingthefollowingvariancesandwaiver:Section905,toallowmetalbuilding materials;Section1004,toallowexistingparkingdecktoencroachwithintherear20 setback;Section1203,toallowappropriateparkingforanewautomobiledealership; Section1201,toallowparkingandaccessbetweenthebuildingsandthestreet; Sections1205and1208,toconstructaparkingdeckwithoutrequiredlandscaping;and aWaivertoSection93,toallowthefacilitytobedesignedusingLEEDstandards withoutgoingthroughtheLEEDapplicationandcertificationprocesswithUSGBC.
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NEWS Briefs
The DeKalb County Board of Education has been awarded the Rotten Apple Award by Americans for Prosperity-Georgia (AFP). The award, bestowed during a news conference Feb. 28 in the state Capitol, was given after Gov. Nathan Deal was forced to remove six of 10 board members after a report revealed rampant political gamesmanship and fiscal irresponsibility that has contributed to the decline of what used to be a well-functioning district, according a statement from AFP. I am frustrated and disheartened by the reprehensible conduct of our DeKalb County Board of Education, which forced Gov. Deal to act in the best interests of students and remove six of them from their posts, said AFP-Georgia State Director Virginia Galloway. Our students are the ones that suffer the most when adults put their own desires ahead of a childs education, Galloway said. As if it werent enough that their embarrassing behavior was brought to light, these so-called
ubrookhaven
public servants are mounting legal action to preserve their jobs, she said. These shameful actions have led us to award them the Rotten Apple. County recreation department accepting summer camp registration The DeKalb County Camp Superstars summer camp registration is now open at 12 recreation centers. Camp Superstars is a summer day camp for ages 5-15 and runs June 3 to Aug. 2, 7 a.m. 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, at a charge of $55 per week. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Children who participate in the Camp Superstars summer day camp will experience a variety of activities, including field trips, swim lessons, arts and crafts, nature, sports, health and wellness clinics, team games and more. Registration is under way at all centers. The camp will not be held at N.H. Scott Recreation Center because of renovations. Early registration is encouraged due to the limited number of slots
available. Applications are available online at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks. Applications can be printed and submitted to a recreation center along with the first weeks fee. For more information, call the Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs at (404) 371-2711. Community garden named for fallen ofcers A park in unincorporated Decatur will be named for two DeKalb County officers killed in line of duty. The DeKalb Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 19 to name the property located at 2309 Hillside Ave. the Barker Bryant Memorial Community Garden at Buena Vista Lake. The naming resolution was introduced by Commissioner Larry Johnson, who used district greenspace funds to purchase the property. Officer Ricky Bryant Jr. was a Marines veteran and had served with the police department for two years and Officer Eric Barker was an Army veteran who had
served with the department for four years before they were killed at an apartment complex on Glenwood Road in January 2008. It is a pleasure to continue to honor the memory of the two officers whose lives were taken in 2008, Johnson said about the park, which has been adopted by the East Lake Terrace Community as a community garden. The officers Barker and Bryant were well-known in the community and I am glad to have sponsored this resolution. Officers Barker and Bryant gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in serving the community. It is our privilege to name this garden in their honor as it will serve as a lasting tribute for their valiant service to the community, Johnson said. We are working steadily to make the garden a success and I am happy that Commissioner Johnson was able to name the garden in honor of the two officers who patrolled our area, said Veronica Gilyard, an East Lake Terrace resident.
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dent of the Georgia Federation of Teachers, said in an open letter to the House and Senate education committees that the bill is creating a rift among parents, teachers and the community. Turner said that a collaborative and sustainable plan should be in order to improve schools and called for an alternative to HB 123. She said that throughout the country, the trigger bill has allowed some improvement to lower-income communities, but also opened the door to private and for-profit companies. A similar bill, SB 162, is
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Local News
According to the District Attorneys Office, Rothenberg received more than $1.3 million in funds from a Colorado-based investment group named Winterhawk Energy and Development Corporation for an investment deal. Michael Rothenberg unlawfully transferred $440,000 into accounts that he controlled and then illegally used those funds for his own personal use, District Attorney Robert James said. He would frequent local DeKalb County spots such as Farm Burger, J. Christophers and Walmart on other peoples dimes. Rothenberg, a Decatur attorney, was running to unseat Superior Court Judge Gail Flake. Some of those funds were redirected into various accounts controlled by Rothenberg, including a campaign account and a per-
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Detailed Local Forecast
Today we will see sunny skies with a high temperature of 57, humidity of 40%. Northwest wind 10 mph. The record high temperature for today is 80 set in 1974. Expect clear skies tonight with an overnight low of 34. The record low for tonight is 21 set in 1966.
March 7, 2013
Weather History
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Date Hi Lo Normals Precip Tuesday 51 36 60/39 1.11" Sunny Wednesday 58 41 60/39 0.00" High: 65 Low: 42 Thursday 47 36 60/40 0.00" Friday 42 34 61/40 0.00" SUNDAY Saturday 40 34 61/40 0.00" Partly Cloudy Sunday 41 29 61/40 0.00" High: 67 Low: 47 Monday 58 27 62/41 0.00" Rainfall. . . . . . . . 1.11" Average temp. . 41.0 MONDAY Normal rainfall. . 1.24" Average normal 50.3 Few Showers Departure . . . . . .-0.13" Departure . . . . . -9.3 High: 66 Low: 45
SATURDAY
March 7, 1990 - A major ice storm left much of Iowa under a thick coat of ice. It was the worst ice storm in at least 25 years for Iowa. Up to two inches of ice coated much of western and central Iowa, with three inches reported in Crawford County and Carroll County. March 8, 1717 - On Fishers Island in Long Island Sound, 1,200 sheep were discovered to have been buried under a snow drift for four weeks. When finally uncovered, 100 sheep were still alive.
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Mostly Cloudy High: 64 Low: 46
Moonset 2:35 p.m. 3:41 p.m. 4:46 p.m. 6:49 p.m. 7:51 p.m. 8:52 p.m. 9:51 p.m.
Tonights Planets
Full 3/27 Last 4/2 Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Rise 6:30 a.m. 6:51 a.m. 7:26 a.m. 10:59 a.m. 10:44 p.m. 7:55 a.m. Set 6:08 p.m. 6:11 p.m. 7:20 p.m. 1:07 a.m. 9:42 a.m. 8:10 p.m.
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0 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+
Weather Trivia
UV Index 0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate, 6-7: High, 8-10: Very High, 11+: Extreme Exposure
What U.S. city holds the record for the lowest high temperature?
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Lakeside cityhood proponents look forward to continuing to fine-tune the map, said Mary Kay Woodworth, a leader of the movement.
ahead. Several hundred people attended the alliances second public meeting in February. Woodworth said it was an older crowd with good questions and very good points. Its exciting to see so much interest and support in this community for this proposal, and I look forward to keeping the conversation going as we move ahead with our study, Woodworth said. LCA is in the process of forming a board of directors and soliciting donations to fund a cityhood study. The goal is to get as much information to as many people as we can, Woodworth said. More information about Lakeside City Alliance can be found at www. lakesidealliance.org.
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Clarkston begins streetscape program The city of Clarkston is preparing to develop a $6 million streetscape improvement project with funding provided by the Georgia Roadway and Tollway and Federal Highway Administration authorities. The funding will provide for streetscape and pedestrian enhancements on several streets including portions of East Ponce de Leon Ave, Church, and Market streets, and Norman Road. City Manager Keith Barker said the project is expected to begin no later than summer and it was a larger part of an effort to strengthen the vitality of the town-center district. According to a press release, the project will include a decorative safety
fence between the edge of the road and CSX right of way, decorative pedestrian lighting, mast arms at intersections, new ADA sidewalks, replacement of wooden power poles, new bus shelters and improvements at the CSX track crossovers. Decatur offers free Wi-Fi The city of Decatur began offering free wireless March 1 in several areas throughout the city including downtown Decatur, the Oakhurst business district, Oakhurst Park, Glenlake Park, McKoy Park and Adair Park. To use the service, residents and visitors can connect to the network named Decatur Free Wi-Fi. For more information visit www.decaturga.com.
Lewis
was also a former liaison and corporate secretary for Grady Healthcare System, and retired from the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority as an executive liaison. She was active at Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church, where she was a member for 39 years. She served on local boards including the South DeKalb YMCA Academies, the South DeKalb Business Association, DeKalb EOA Inc,
Education
with the qualities that Mr. Duncan has, there would be no problem in education anywhere in this country. Rodney Keyes of ValuTeachers, who presented the award, told Duncan that he is making a great difference in this community and in this school. It takes special people to make special individuals to rise up and become leaders in society, Keyes said. You have done a tremendous job in doing that. Its amazing the number of lives you have touched over your career. Your peers, the students you have mentored and those who have gone on to have professional careers in the arts have have truly complimented and referenced you as deciding factor that led their lives to become what they have become today, Keyes said. Duncan said he hopes the award will bring some positive press for our district. There are a lot of good things going on here, Duncan said. There are a lot of great things at Henderson. I hope it brings more positive energy to our schools here.
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Dale Duncan is surprised when he receives a national award for his work with students. Photo by Andrew Cauthen. Bottom, Duncan accepts the award as Henderson Middle principal Terese Allen looks on. Photo by Kerry King
Fernbank team entering robotics competition The Fernbank LINKS Robotics Team and its robot, Bellatrickz, will be competing in the FIRST Robotics Peachtree Regional Competition at the Gwinnett Civic Center, March 15-16. Thirty team members from 16 school groups have dedicated six weeks of evenings and weekends to building Bellatrickz in the engineering lab at Lakeside High School. This years competition requires students to design, construct and drive a robot that throws a Frisbee at a 10-foot tall, 4-foot wide target 50 feet away. Students have six weeks to produce the most innovative and successful robot. The build season will culminate in the Peachtree Regional, which features 30 high school teams from around the south. The LINKS team will be competing this year as one of 10 rookie teams. The FIRST mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills; that inspire innovation; and that foster well-rounded life capabilities, including self-confidence, communication and leadership. For more information on FIRST Robotics, visit www.usfirst.org. To learn more about the Fernbank LINKS Robotics Team, visit its website at www.fernbanklinks.com.
Education Briefs
Decatur student wins spelling bee Arbitrage. That was the final word in the Georgia Association of Educators Dictrict 4 spelling bee Feb. 23. Lua Adwet Samandari, 12, a fifthgrade student at City Schools of Decatur 4/5 Academy, was the winner after 12 rounds of competition. Lua Adwet Samandari Photo by Regina Patterson The spelling bee had 132 words divided among 28 contestants, 18 girls and 10 boys. Samandari, whose brother Andalib, was the state runner-up last year, will compete in the state finals March 15 at Georgia State University. GAEs District 4 includes school systems in DeKalb, Fulton, Paulding and Douglas counties, Decatur and Atlanta. Agnes Scott named Tree Campus USA Agnes Scott College, with a canopy of more than 2,000 trees, has been named a Tree Campus
USA. Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Agnes Scott achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USAs five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures toward trees, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning projects. Agnes Scott has valued the importance of both care and planting of trees for a long time so its wonderful to receive this official recognition for our efforts, said Susan Kidd, director of sustainability at Agnes Scott. Agnes Scott has an arboretum advisory committee, made up of students, faculty, staff and community members, to oversee and plan care for the campus many trees. The college also works frequently with Trees Atlanta on campus and surrounding community projects. Tree Campus USA is a partnership between Toyota and The Arbor Day Foundation, a nonprofit conservation and education organization of one million members with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.
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Business
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La Tagliatella offers sharable portions of foods inspired by Italys rustic culinary traditions in a setting designed to suggest a northern Italian home. At bottom right, U.S. Division President Mike Muldoon, left, and General Manager Daniel Gibson explain the dining concept brought from Europe to Atlanta.
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Sports
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Southwest DeKalb girls and Miller Grove boys and girls are among five DeKalb County basketball teams that advanced to the Georgia High School Association state championship games. Photos by Travis Hudgons
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Sports
I saw some things happening but I didnt want to leave it at the time because I wanted to keep that program vertical, he said. The last three years we didnt have the best talent but we still had some people tugging at us, trying to pull us the wrong way and I didnt want them doing that. Godfrey said he lost some players to other schools during that time and a lot of people blamed him for that. But his program continued to be a successful. We took the kids that we had and coached them up, he said. And we still got to the playoffs and some of the ones that left didnt get to the playoffs. Although some of his coaching tactics were questioned during his last years, his loyalty to the program and school were never questioned. In 2005, Godfrey had to fight three bouts of cancers, but he continued to coach. He also had surgery on both of his knees so he could continue to walk the sidelines. I wanted the kids to see my sense of loyalty to them and the program, he said. Unfortunately, some didnt see it. But, I was always loyal to Southwest. Since he will no longer walk the sidelines, Godfrey plans to finish writing his second book on one of his mentors, legendary college football coach Eddie Robinson. His first book, The Team Nobody Would Play, was released in 2008. He also plans to work with the Southwest DeKalb baseball team, fish and spend a lot of time with his four grandchildren. While he is enjoying his retirement, he hopes his former and current players and the Southwest DeKalb community remembers and maintains the success of the football program. In 30 years that school averaged nine wins a season and didnt have a losing season, he said. Thats something to build on and improve on. The standard is set. Most kids out there are proud to have been there and in the end I hope I have made a difference. I know I have.
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versity where he also played baseball. He played center field and hit .511 in 1965. He served as captain of both teams as a junior and senior and helped lead the baseball team to conference championships three times. He earned a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship to Columbia for graduate school and then went to New York University on another partial scholarship. After trying out for the New York Mets and stepping into the ring to participate in Golden Gloves boxing, he began to use his degree as an English teacher in Manhattan at Spanish Harlem Junior High School 120 in 1967. He moved to DeKalb County in 1974 and became an English teacher and baseball coach at Gordon. During his 30 years at Southwest DeKalb he won 273 games, won the 1995 Class AAAA Georgia High School Association state championship, 13 region titles, and helped hundreds of players earn scholarships to college. Godfrey never had a losing record at Southwest DeKalb and missed the postseason just three times. While coaching football, he established a community swim team in DeKalb County, the Worthington Valley Swim Team. We became one of the premiere swim programs in the county, he said. I just wanted to give back to the community. Godfreys 30-year tenure has been filled with ups and downs, including his last game as a coach that ended in a 19-14 loss to Kell in the first round of the playoffs. But the ups certainly outweigh the downs. Ive seen so many guys grow up, grow out and give back, he said. I have seven former players that are police officers, seven preachers, chefs, and engineers that are making a lot of money. These are people that made a difference in society. Three years ago, Godfrey knew his years as a head football coach were coming to an end soon. But, he stayed with the program to make sure it would continue to move in the right direction after he left.
The Champion chooses a male and female high school Athlete of the Week each week throughout the school year. The choices are based on performance and nominations by coaches. Please e-mail nominations to carla@dekalbchamp.com by Monday at noon. MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Tahj Shamsid-Deen, Columbia (basketball): The senior guard scored 32 points, with 25 in the first half, in Columbias 69-42 win over Statesboro in the Class AAAA semifinals playoff game on March 2. He averaged 25.8 points per game this season. FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Tynice Martin, Southwest DeKalb (basketball): The sophomore forward had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds in the Lady Panthers 43-41 win over Forest Park in the Class AAAAA semifinals playoff game on March 2. Martin averaged 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game this season.
Each week The Champion spotlights former high school players from the county who are succeeding in athletics on the college level.
Langston Hall, Mercer (basketball): The junior guard from Chamblee scored 12 points and had nine assists in the 77-65 win over Stetson on March 2. Hall is averaging 10.7 points and 4.5 assists per game. Nic Wilson, Georgia State (baseball): The junior infielder from Decatur scored one run and had one run batted in (RBI) in Georgia States 5-4 win over Boston College on March 1. Wilson has a .281 batting average, eight runs, and four RBIs on the season. Conisha Hicks, Clark Atlanta (basketball): The junior from Miller Grove was named MVP of the 2013 SIAC Womens Basketball Tournament, as she had game highs of 20 points, seven assists, and five steals to lead Clark Atlanta over Benedict College 75-58 in March 2. She averaged 15.5 points per game this season.
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career points. Doyle surpassed former Howard standout Alisha Tuff Hill (1994-98). Doyle is also third on the all-time list for career rebounds at Howard with 1,125 rebounds. The Health Education and Childcare major was named the 2012-13 MidEastern Athletic Conference Pre-Season Player of the year.
Local News
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Avery cares for chicken at Academe of the Oaks, a private school in Decatur. Photo by Kerry King
to living without human help, she said. Instead, Avery said she has her hands full with three small chicks that are considerably different from the adult chickens. Chicks are more difficult because theyre really delicate, Avery said. You have to watch them a lot and they have to be fed constantly.
Another interesting difference, Avery said, is that these chicks lay blue eggs instead of brown. The eggs of the adults have a light brown or peach color. The chicks, which are of the araucana species, lay blue eggs. When asked if she has a favorite chicken, Avery said, I dont choose favorites because I take care of them. Thatd be mean and unfair to them.
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