CrossRoadsNews, July 28, 2018 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

PEOPLE

YOUTH

Emmett Till case reviewed

Rock Chapel makeover

The U.S. Justice Department is taking another look at the murder of Emmett Till, based on new information. A4

More than 250 volunteers painted, planted and more at Rock Chapel Elementary after the school got a School Crasher grant . A7

INSIDE

One year later...

STONECREST a special report

EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER • STONECREST

July 28, 2018

Volume 24, Number 13

www.crossroadsnews.com

Cochran-Johnson wins Super District 7 seat in a landslide By Jennifer Ffrench-Parker

Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will be DeKalb County’s next Super District 7 commissioner. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, CochranJohnson, a media executive, defeated incumbent Gregory Adams in the July 24 runoff taking 9,993 or 67.37 percent of the votes cast. Only 9.29 percent or 44,485 of the county’s 478,665 voters cast ballots in the election. The results are unofficial until certified by the DeKalb Board of Elections and Georgia Secretary of State. Adams, who won the office in a special election in December 2016, was in office only four months when he was accused of sexually harassing his district manager. A county

“When people vote for you, they hire you. I owe it to the people to operate at the highest degree of accountability and I want them to know that I will hold myself to an even higher standard than even they expect.” Lorraine Cochran-Johnson

internal investigation found that he violated county policy and recommended that he take sensitivity training. Cochran-Johnson established a convincing lead early, taking 64.5 percent of early votes, and never looked

back. She watched with results from her Stonecrest home with about 15 family members, friends and supporters. She said she considers it “an honor and a privilege” to be the choice of the people. “When people vote for you, they hire you,” she said. “I owe it to the people to operate at the highest degree of accountability and I want them to know that I will hold myself to an even higher standard than even they expect.” Cochran-Johnson, who does not have a Republican challenger in the Nov. 6 election, will take office in January. She said she is looking forward to having a wonderful relationship with fellow commissioners and working with them on economic development, public safety and infrastructure.

AGL Service Center on target for December opening Hopes high for positive impact in community

Atlanta Gas Light’s new Regional Service Center will have offices, warehouse spaces, fleet operations and a compressed natural gas station to service Atlanta Gas Light vehicles. It will employ 120 people.

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Five months before it opens in December, Atlanta Gas Light Regional Service Center has already changed the landscape in the South DeKalb. The glass and cinderblock structure overlooking the Gresham Road/I-20 East service road is the first new construction in years in the area. District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson, who represents the area, said he feels like a proud parent every time he drives by the construction. “It’s a great feeling,” he said July 24. “It’s like a down payment on the reLarry Johnson naissance of the Gresham Road area.” AGL and county officials, including Johnson, broke ground on the 51,000-square-foot facility on Aug. 18, 2017. The building is going up at 2505 Brannen Road on what was once an abandoned park-and-ride lot, a short distance from the Gresham Road Walmart. Construction crews have stayed on schedule, and AGL spokeswoman Mekka Parish said Tuesday that December 2018 remains the completion date for the project. This week, landscapers were installing trees and shrubbery on the property, and construction crews were adding finishing touches to the building and grounds. Parish said a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held in December. The AGL metro regional office will have offices, warehouse spaces, fleet operations and a compressed natural gas station to service Atlanta Gas Light vehicles. It will employ 120 people. At the groundbreaking, also a year ago,

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

AGL President Bryan Batson said the location is ideal for the company to better serve its 1.6 million metro Atlanta customers. “As demand for energy continues, our customers deserve the same level of excellence in natural gas Bryan Batson service they have always depended on,” he said. “And nothing beats this location.” Johnson, who is looking forward to the economic growth the facility will bring to the Gresham area and District 3, says it will be a catalyst for attracting other corporate partners and new restaurants in the area. “We need that lunchtime crowd for others to open,” he said.

Johnson said that having a corporation like AGL locate in the area will be an invitation to other companies. “For others who might be hesitating, it will show them that they can come too,” he said. The commissioner pointed out that if AGL needs a large facility nearby to host team-building or other corporate events exercises, the county-owned Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center has a 500-seat facility, just two miles down the road. Within a five-mile radius of the AGL Service Center, Johnson points to a number of new and upcoming developments. Among them, Black Hawks Studios at Bouldercrest and Constitution Road; The Flats at East Atlanta apartment community at Flat Shoals and Cook roads; a new $150,000 playground

installed last year at Gresham Recreation Center; and a recently approved $2.5 million Spray Park at NH Scott Park. The Flats at East Atlanta is a 140-apartment community purchased and being remodeled by URS Capital Partners at a total investment $9.7 million. Johnson said the completed renovated two-bedroom apartments will rent for $1,050. Before the URS Capital Partner investment, the apartments were $400. Also last year, the Atlanta Hawks built basketball courts at Gresham Recreation Center and NH Scott Park, and Allstate Insurance installed flag and tag football fields at both places. “The renaissance is moving ahead,” Johnson said. “More amenities are coming to match what AGL is doing.”

CrossRoadsNews

Community

July 28, 2018

Dear-Jackson came to Georgia in 1994 to attend Spelman College and never left.

Latisha Dear-Jackson South DeKalb Alliance members protest takes open DeKalb the wrongs they see in local government people in this county.” Superior Court seat The alliance also protested DeKalb commissioners givBy Bryce Ethridge

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Latisha Dear-Jackson will be DeKalb’s newest Superior Court judge, succeeding Judge Daniel Coursey. Dear-Jackson won the July 24 nonpartisan runoff with 21,621 votes (55.15 percent) in a hard-fought race with former prosecutor Tunde Akinyele, whose 17,582 votes represented 44.85 percent of the vote. She will be the sixth woman and seventh African American on the 10L. Dear-Jackson member bench. Dear-Jackson, an 11-year municipal court judge and civil litigator, is from Los Angeles, Calif. She came to Georgia in 1994 to attend Spelman College and never left. She has been a resident of DeKalb County since 2001. Coursey is retiring at the end of his term on Dec. 31. Dear-Jackson will take Tunde Akinyele office in January. With 100 percent the precincts reporting, only 44,485 or 9.29 percent of the county’s 478,665 voters cast ballots in the runoff elections. The results are unofficial until certified by the DeKalb Elections Board and the Secretary of State.

With a beef to settle and placards in-hand, Samson Burrell and eight volunteers stood outside the DeKalb’s Maloof Auditorium on July 21 calling for a change in leadership and asking a simple question: Where’s our money? Burrell, who is president of the South DeKalb Communities Alliance, said he led the protest to address a multitude of issues starting with DeKalb Sheriff Jeffery Mann, whose certification to be sheriff was revoked on Sept. 27 in the wake of his 2017 arrest on indecency charges. Samson Burrell Burrell said Mann is appealing the revocation of his certification when he should just resign. “[Now] you have a man that sits in the sheriff ’s office who’s not certified,” Burrell said. Mann was arrested by Atlanta Police for exposing himself in Piedmont Park in an area known for same-sex encounters, and running from an officer. Burrell said Gov. Nathan Deal could have removed Mann from office but since he hasn’t done so, the alliance is taking up the matter. “You cannot plead guilty to a crime when there are people in your jail with the same crime and they can’t get out,” he said. “If people don’t find something wrong with that, then there’s something wrong with the psyche of the

ing themselves a 60 percent raise, code enforcement’s inefficiencies, and DeKalb County School District’s $1 billion budget. Burrell said there’s more hurt than help going on in the county. “As long as people are still ignorant to these issues, this county is going to continue to run the way it’s been,” he said. Burrell said he was disappointed with the turnout for the protest. “I did expect the crowd to be larger than what it was,” he said. “However that does not deter us from making the statement and the point we’re going to make.” Burrell said the South DeKalb Communities Alliance’s next plan of action is to meet with attorneys and draw up a civil lawsuit against DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond and the Board of Commissioners in hopes of getting them to “do the work of the people of DeKalb County,” specifically South DeKalb. “South DeKalb feels like they’re being neglected and you see that in every angle of this county,” he said. “We’re hoping to have them under oath and to tell the county what they’re doing and not doing.” Burrell said the alliance wants to let public officials know that they are not exempted from the rule. “You either abide by the law and the people of this county or we’re going to do what we can to have you removed,” he said.

Clarkston officials hosting mix and mingle before July work session Clarkston residents and stakeholders can mix and mingle with elected officials and administrative staff at the city’s July 31 Pre-Work Session Mixer at City Hall. The event, which kicked off in April, is designed to increase community and civic engagement. It takes place 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. before the July City Council Work Session, which starts at 7 p.m. City Manager Keith Barker said the o “Topics for these discussions can range from work session agenda items to neighborhood and community issues, public safety concerns and to increasing programs, projects and city-services awareness,” he said. “Mixers are another forum in which Keith Barker the city will continue to provide opportunities for civic and community engagement.” This month’s special guest of honor is DeKalb Police Detective Khary Ricketts, manager of the PALs Plus After Dark Basketball League, and Malia Cargile, Clarkston Library’s new branch manager. Light to heavy appetizers are served at every mixer. Clarkston City Hall is at 3921 Church St. For more information, call Terry Sanders at 470-244-5355.

Clarkston’s community PreWork Session mixers offer citizens an informal setting to engage the city’s decision makers.

our PRIDE, South DeKalb!

Your PRIDE, South DeKalb!

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& Paint h Mow, Trimh &Mow, Paint Trim h Clean to the Curb A PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE FROM CROSSROADSNEWS

July 28, 2018

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“Our office will continue to investigate and prosecute those who take advantage of their positions for illegal gain.”

Former Equifax manager pleads guilty to profiting from data breach

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

A former Equifax manager who profited from a data breach that exposed the financial information of 145 million consumers in the summer of 2017 will be sentenced in October. Sudhakar Reddy Bonthu of Atlanta pleaded guilty to a charge of insider trading based on his purchases of options ahead of Equifax’s public announcement of the data breach on July 23. U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg will sentence Bonthu Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak said Bonthu violated the law when he used his knowledge of Equifax’s data breach – in which hackers acquired consumers names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and

addresses – to enrich himself. “Our office will continue to investigate and prosecute those who take advantage of their positions for illegal gain,” Pak said. Investigators say that Bonthu, a software development manager for Equifax’s Global Consumer Services, was tapped by his employer on Aug. 25, 2017, to respond to the data breach ahead of its Sept. 6, 2017, announcement of the breach. On Sept. 1, 2017, Bonthu, 44, bought 86 put options in Equifax stock that expired on Sept. 15, 2017, which allowed him to profit if the value of Equifax stock dropped within that two-week period. When Equifax publicly disclosed the data breach on Sept. 7, 2017, its stock fell the next day. Bonthu then exercised his put options and netted a profit of more than $75,000.

Board of Health adds extra hours With the Aug. 6 start of the new school year just days away, the DeKalb Board of Health is offer extra hours for parent to get back-to-school immunizations. The department says its five health centers will open two extra hours from 8:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 30-Aug. 2 and Aug. 6-8. On Aug. 3, all centers and Vital Records will observe normal hours of 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Families can also get vision, hearing, dental and nutrition screenings as well as sports physicals for their children headed to school for the 2018-2019 school year. The county’s Vital Records office in the Richardson Health Center will also be open late for those needing birth certificates for children born in Georgia. No appointment is necessary. Parents should bring each child’s im-

munization record and insurance card, and cash, a debit or credit card, or a check drawn from a Georgia bank. The Board of Health accepts Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids and State Health Benefit Plan. Other insurance plans may be accepted. Call to verify. The health center locations are: n Clifton Springs Health Center, 3110 Clifton Springs Rd., Decatur. n East DeKalb Health Center, 2277 S. Stone Mountain-Lithonia Rd., Lithonia. n North DeKalb Health Center, 3807 Clairmont Rd., NE, Chamblee. n Richardson Health Center (Vital Records), 445 Winn Way, Decatur. n T.O. Vinson Health Center, 440 Winn Way, Decatur. For more information, visit www.dekalbhealth.net or call 404-294-3700.

Sudhakar Reddy Bonthu if Atlanta pleaded guilty a charge of insider trading.

Hackers were able to access Equifax’s databases through a software hole from May to July 2017. When the breach was announced, the Atlanta-based company’s stock dropped nearly $40 a share to $105.04 on Sept. 22,

from $141.59 on Sept. 1. Bonthu faces up to 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Bonthu, who is not a U.S. citizen, also agreed to a list of conditions including surrendering his Indian passport, travel restrictions and not trading stock of any company for which he works. If he violates any of the listed conditions or fails to make his next court appearance, he will have to pay $20,000. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber, deputy chief of the Complex Frauds Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynsey M. Barron are prosecuting the case.

Narcan kits to help in opioid fight DeKalb Board of Health now has $15,000 worth of Narcan kits to treat opioid overdoses compliments of the Aetna Foundation. The kits, containing 408 doses of nasal syringes prefilled with naloxone, were donated at the county’s second annual opioid summit held July 26 at the Porter Sanford Center in Decatur. Naloxone blocks or reverses the effects of opioids. District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson said the Board Health will distribute the kits to first responders to combat the opioid epidemic across the county. “Opioid abuse and overdose is one of the most urgent public health crises facing our community today,” said Johnson, who co-hosted the opioid summit with STAND Inc. “Narcan saves lives, and we

need a ready supply. This donation equips our first responders with an increased supply to prevent fatal opioid overdoses in DeKalb County.” The Georgia Department of Public Health reports that from 2010 to 2016, the total number of opioid-related overdose deaths statewide increased by 117 percent, from 426 to 929 deaths. Frank Ulibarri, Aetna in Georgia’s vice president and market president, said the kits in the hands of first responders will save lives. “Nearly a thousand Aetna employees call Greater Atlanta home,” he said. “This issue is close to our hearts, and we know that real solutions have to be brought to bear in their local communities if we are going to fight this effectively.”

FAMILY REUNION PLANNING WORKSHOP Saturday, August 18, 2018 | 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Stars and Strikes Entertainment Center 1741 Mountain Ind. Blvd. Stone Mountain, GA 30083

CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018 | 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Discover DeKalb 1957 Lakeside Pkwy., Suite 510, Tucker, GA 30084 Register Now! Discover DeKalb workshops and training are complimentary. Call 770-492-5000 or preregister online. For more information, visit us at discoverdekalb.com

#DISCOVERDEKALB

People

CrossRoadsNews

July 28, 2018

“The story of Emmett Till is one of the most important of the last half of the 20th century.”

Justice Department taking new look at Emmett Till murder 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Staff Writer Jennifer Ffrench Parker Editorial Interns Rosie Manins Bryce Etheridge Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Multimedia Editor Sharif Williams CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisements, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

Circulation Audited By

Since 2003

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire

The U.S. Department of Justice has once again reopened the infamous Emmett Till case. The 1955 murder case was a major turning point in the Civil Rights Movement and one of the most notorious murders in United States history. In August 28, 1955, Emmett Till, who was 14, was murdered in the town of Money, Mississippi by Roy Bryant and his half-brother J.W. Milam after Bryant’s wife Carolyn alleged that Till whistled at her and groped her. Bryant and Milam abducted Emmett Till from the home of his great-uncle, beat him, shot him in the head and dumped his body in the Tallahatchie River. Till’s body was weighted down by a cast iron cotton gin pulley. Three days later his corpse was recovered from the river. Till’s body was sent to his mother, Mamie Carthan Till, in Chicago. She demanded that her son would have an open casket funeral. The decision would lead to worldwide press attention after hundreds of attendees were given full view of Till’s mutilated corpse. The Black Press, led by Jet magazine, widely covered Till’s murder, featuring several jarring photos. In a Justice Department statement on July 13, the reason given for reopening the Till investigation was related to, “receiving new information.” However, the Justice Department did not detail exactly what the new information was. According to USA Today, the decision was revealed to Congress in a February report, but it is unclear what the Justice Department is prepared to act on. In September 1955, Bryant and Milam were acquitted by an all-White jury after less than 90 minutes of deliberation. Till’s murderers later admitted to the crime in a 1956 interview for LOOK magazine. Bryant died in 1994 and Milam died in

Forum

Mamie TillMobley weeps at her son’s funeral on Sept. 6, 1955, in Chicago.

Chicago Sun-Times/AP

1980. Till, who was born in in Chicago on July 25, 1941 would have been 77 years old on July 25. His mother, Mamie Carthan-Till, died at age 81 on Jan. 6, 2003 CNN.com reported that, “‘Several interested parties’ Emmett Till asked the Justice Department in 2004 whether any surviving suspects could be prosecuted.” At the time the Justice Department determined that the statute of limitations prevented any federal prosecution, according to CNN. com. “Three years later, a Mississippi grand jury declined to issue new charges,” CNN.com reported. Many have speculated that the reopening of Emmett Till’s death by the Justice Department is related to last year’s publication of the book “The Blood of Emmett Till,” by author Tim Tyson. Tyson’s book revealed that Bryant’s ex-wife, Carolyn Bryant Donham admitted in 2008 that she lied when she claimed Till whistled at her, a

tale she would later tell her husband that set off a chain of events leading to Till’s murder. In 1955 Carolyn Bryant Donham was 21 year-old former beauty queen; now, she’s more than 80 year-old and living in North Carolina. The original casket of Emmett Till was donated to the Smithsonian Institution and is now displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. “The story of Emmett Till is one of the most important of the last half of the 20th century. And an important element was the casket,” said Lonnie Bunch, the director of NMAAHC, in a 2009 interview with The Washington Post. “It is an object that allows us to tell the story, to feel the pain and understand loss.” Bunch continued: “I want people to feel like I did. I want people to feel the complexity of emotions.” Lauren Victoria Burke is a journalist, political analyst and contributor to the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com. Reach her at LBurke007@gmail.com and on Twitter at @ LVBurke. This article was originally published at BlackPressUSA.com.

My team and I were strong advocates for the students and people of DeKalb County.

GPTC must not be allowed to close South DeKalb campus By Dr. Jabari Simama

First they came for the President of Georgia Piedmont Technical College, but I did not speak out – because I was not the President. Then they came for the President’s Cabinet, but I did not speak out – because I was not a member of the President’s Cabinet. Then they came for the GPTC South DeKalb Campus, but I did not speak out – be- Jabari Simama cause I was not a student at the South DeKalb Campus. Then they shut down the South DeKalb Campus, gave the Newton Campus to Athens Tech, and merged Georgia Piedmont with another college – there was no one left to speak for DeKalb. I served as president of Georgia Piedmont Technical College for six years and take pride in all the many great things my team and I did for our community and the college, leading it from a career vocational school to a 21st century college. Under my leadership, the college scaled to new heights. Among our accomplishments, GPTC elevated enrollment, graduation, completion, and retention rates and posted an almostperfect job placement rate of 99.5 percent. GPTC students stood out statewide, winning “Student of the Year” three times in the six years I was at the helm, more than any other technical college president in the state. We have all witnessed an increase in visibility and relevance of GPTC in terms of its tech education, high school dual enrollment, and adult education programs. GPTC has also experienced a remarkable growth in its customized training contracts with business and industry. My team and I were strong advocates for the students and people of DeKalb County. In 2015,

we opened a campus on Wesley Chapel Road that now educates more than 700 students; and the campus enrollment, if it is not closed down as GPTC is planning to do in December, is poised to grow even more in the future. GPTC has played down the number of DeKalb residents served by the campus by only reporting to media the enrollment of technical education students. The college’s mission is to serve tech, adult, and business and industry education students. Presidents are required to report on students served in all three of these sectors. Over half of the GPTC students served at the South DeKalb campus are South DeKalb residents trying to better their lives by earning a GED. GPTC has the largest adult education program in the entire technical college system, serving approximately 4,000 students a year. The college has also recently invested over a million dollars in an advance manufacturing center on GPTC’s Newton County campus, where DeKalb students also make up the majority enrollment. In other words, DeKalb residents keep the lights on and pay the bills for all of GPTC. When I was president, I always understood this and made a return to the county on DeKalb’s investment in the form of the Southside campus. I had the grit to stay the course in the midst of fierce criticism from political and educational leaders in Newton and Morgan counties. The leadership of the school system in Morgan County recently and secretly met with TCSG’s commissioner to hatch out a deal to allow the school system’s new college and career academy in Morgan County to work exclusively with nearby Athens Tech. Next, they could give the Newton campus to Athens Tech. This would mean DeKalb citizens would be subsidizing Athens Tech at the expense of DeKalb County taxpayers. We all remember the days of taxation without representation and don’t want to go backwards.

Now the new Republican commissioner of the Technical College System, Matt Arthur, says the college cannot afford the South DeKalb campus, and he wants to shut it down. He is pushing this narrative at a time when the state is anticipating nearly $4 billion in surplus revenue. He is using as a pretext the amount of money the college spends for operations, including renting the space for the South DeKalb campus. Although GPTC’s budget is approximately the same amount as what had previously been allocated to the college, Arthur has ordered the college to reduce its staff. The college has responded by terminating over 15 employees, mostly African Americans with significant tenure and records of accomplishment, including the leader of the Adult Education program at the South DeKalb campus. Insofar as the South DeKalb campus is concerned, I always considered it an investment in the people and the community. GPTC ignored South DeKalb for nearly 60 years. It is important today that we take a stand for all residents of DeKalb, no matter where they live. What better time than to invest in citizens now that the state is awash in revenue from austerity cuts in education from past years. I am calling on DeKalb County commissioners, the DeKalb County Legislative Delegation, the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, and all DeKalb citizens of goodwill to fight to keep the South DeKalb campus open. To paraphrase Edmond Burke, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.” Let this not be us. Rise up DeKalb! Fight to keep open the South DeKalb campus. Fight to ensure our citizens receive the workforce and higher education skills that will lead to sustainable wage jobs so they may one day experience the American dream. Jabari Simama is the former president of Georgia Piedmont Technical College.

One year later...

a special report

City of Stonecrest moving forward after year one

By Adrion Bell

revenue of $355,000. Business licenses topped the list for revenue generators bringing in more than $1.2 million, followed by franchise fees that generated $900,000. The city finished its first fiscal year with a balanced budget of $2,674,000 and a net position of $271,964. “Sound fiscal responsibility by the staff and city management is responsible for our net position being in excess instead of a deficiency,” Mayor Jason Lary said. City Manager Michael Harris secured the initial city hall space for 10 months, rent-free. Office furniture, valued at more than $40,000, was purchased from the state and other municipalities for less than $10,000 by Assistant City Manager Plez Joyner and Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble. The city formed a partnership with CH2M, now Jacobs Engineering Group, in May 2017. Jacobs agreed to staff the city with qualified employees, pay their salaries and purchase the city’s first vehicles. In return, the city pays Jacobs a contracted amount annually.

July marks the first anniversary for city hall staffers in Stonecrest. Twelve months ago, a staff of four – the city manager, city clerk, communications director and community development director – began working out of borrowed space in Tucker City Hall. The small team was tasked with becoming familiar with the Stonecrest Charter and beginning the administrative work of Stonecrest while the newly elected mayor and council hammered away at legislation that set the city’s legal parameters. The staff quickly grew with the addition of a finance manager, assistant city manager, and code enforcement officers. Today, the staff numbers more than 30 and the internal accomplishments needed to set a strong foundation have been abundant. Maintaining a promise of economic development with no tax increases was one of the goals of the new administration. The city received revenues from issuing more than 300 building permits yielding a

Stonecrest by the numbers

Number of years to form the City of Stonecrest

$55,250 Revenues from business licenses

114

New business licenses issued

53,394 Number of residents in the city of Stonecrest

965

Building and land development inspections performed

This SPECIAL section sponsored by the city of stonecrest

Millions of dollars in SPLOST revenues coming to Stonecrest over 6 years

City

CrossRoadsNews

July 28, 2018

Stonecrest

Laying the foundation for smart growth and fiscal r By Adrion Bell

Mayor Jason Lary and the Stonecrest City Council initially adopted several ordinances from DeKalb County so that laws would be in place to govern zoning and code enforcement. Recently, the city began tightening the reins, aligning the business requirements with the requests of its citizens. For example, a portion of the 21,600square-foot facility on Covington Highway will house a liquor store that will move from across the street at 6670 Covington Highway in unincorporated DeKalb County. There is a silver lining in this development, according to the city’s mayor. “We were able to require that the developer of this retail establishment meet certain

security requirements, such as mounted exterior cameras,” the mayor said. “We also asked them to build a first-class building with architectural accents that include stucco, brick, terra cotta, natural stone, and an 8-foot privacy fence to separate them from the neighboring facility. We even required that their trash is hidden behind a privacy fence,” he added. “We are going to control our destiny,” Lary said. Since the first city council meeting, legislation has been passed to reflect the desires of the residents. For example, a city ordinance passed in 2017 prohibits alcohol sales in nude clubs. The clubs also must be in the city’s industrial area. “These limitations discourage nude clubs

in Stonecrest, which is what the residents desire,” Lary said. The mayor, council, and planning commission are working out regulations to govern short-term vacation rentals commonly advertised on Airbnb websites. After a few rentals were used for club-type parties, the city began drafting more stringent requirements. The proposed regulations are strict and will require owners to limit the number of consecutive days a tenant can rent the property. The proposed regulations also limit the number of guests allowed on the premises. City regulations have also hit the industrial area. Recently, an ordinance was approved that forced the owners of a gravel industrial, truck parking lot to treat the area

to control dust and so that its rainwater runoff would be environmentally safe. The lot must also be screened from public view with an opaque fence and a 10-foot wide evergreen landscape buffer. Citizens are now submitting their development ideas as the staff prepares for Comprehensive Plan 2038. The required Comprehensive Plan will outline the city’s growth and development for the next 20 years.

Fiscal responsibility A financial audit was recently completed for the city’s first six months. The 2017 audit was conducted by Mauldin and Jenkins who also completed the city’s first Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. These reports aren’t usually submitted until a city has been in existence for several years, according to

Stonecrest tops job growth list; residential, commercial projects sprouti By Adrion Bell

Recently the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Stonecrest topped the list of metro Atlanta ZIP Codes with the fastest job growth. The AJC article, “Rich Atlanta areas pulling way ahead,” listed Economic Innovation Group, Census Bureau, and staff research as the sources for the ranking, which also placed Stonecrest third for the area with the largest increase in numbers of companies. Stonecrest’s financial reports support this finding. The city’s business license report indicates that 124 new businesses have applied for licensing between January and June 2018. The city is on track to almost double last year’s 114 new licenses issued. Approximately 80 percent of this year’s licenses were issued to businesses with commercial locations and 20 percent to homebased companies, according to Audrey Mays, the city’s accounting manager. Residential growth has matched the city’s business development. This year, 199 new construction residential building permits have been issued. The land is being cleared by D.R. Horton for a new, 200 single-family home subdivision on the corner of Browns Mill and Evans Mill

New residential projects in Sto Parkway, a senior living comm across the city.

roads. n In the next year, D.R. Horton also plans on adding 100 homes to the 600 existing homes in The Parks at Stonecrest. n Two senior living complexes are being constructed at 2654 DeKalb Medical Parkway and 6757 Covington Highway. Developers are planning to construct more than 400 units between the two complexes.

n Recently, Stonecrest has attracted businesses such as Stonecrest 16 IMAX Theatres, Round1 Entertainment, H&M, and Atlanta Sports City. n The Pizza Bar, whose first location is in the Camp Creek Marketplace, will open soon at 7301 Stonecrest Concourse in the former location of Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles.

n Barnacle’s, a sports bar that once occupied a 12,924-square-foot facility, will soon return to Stonecrest in wthat was once Anna’s Linens. Stonecrest residents will see their share of excavating and land clearing equipment as new construction begins to sprout and take form in the city’s vacant lots. n Hiram Properties Inc. is clearing land at Klondike and Browns Mill roads for a 15,000-square-

Stonecrest’s mayor and council members rely on a wide range o Jason Lary, Mayor

Jimmy Clanton, District 1

Rob Turner, District 2

Jason Lary Sr. was elected as Stonecrest’s first mayor on March 21, 2017. Since taking office on May 1, 2017, Mayor Lary has led the efforts to staff the city and secure a location for the first city hall. Through a partnership with CH2M, a worldwide consulting firm, Mayor Lary is serving the citizens of Stonecrest by staffing professionals in code enforcement, planning and zoning, parks and recreation, communications, city management and administrative services. During his first few months in office, Mayor Lary also hired a team of staff attorneys, set up short-term financing to address the city’s cash flow needs and led the effort to begin adopting ordinances that will improve the quality of life for Stonecrest residents. In September 2017, Mayor Lary took the first steps toward implementing the city’s Economic Development Department. One month later, he began efforts to lure major corporations such as Amazon, a company set to open a second, multibillion-dollar headquarters. Mayor Lary crafted an idea to develop a corporate brand for Amazon by eponymously naming the 345 acres to be occupied by the retail giant. The mayor’s efforts will continue as he targets companies like Apple, Micro Center, and Costco. Mayor Lary served as Chairman of Stonecrest Yes, President of Stonecrest City Alliance and is universally known as the father of Stonecrest. Today, Mayor Lary is working with the newly formed Stonecrest Development Authority with the intent of offering incentives that will boost the city’s economic development. Mayor Lary has created the City of Innovation and Excellence to foster a seamless relationship between our constituents, staff, and council members. This leadership and technological solution fosters the long-term goals of our core values –Community, Commerce, and Culture – working together as a world-class city.

Jimmy Clanton is a recently retired digital properties manager with the Georgia Department of Public Health where he was responsible for website development and management. Councilmember Clanton is serving in his second term as president of the Community Civic Association in The Parks of Stonecrest neighborhood. “I’m humbled to be Stonecrest’s first elected and sworn-in city councilman. My focus and mission, as a council member, is to help build a solid foundation to support our destiny of being a world-class city,” he said. Councilman Clanton was appointed as the chairman of the East Metro CID Committee, the Stonecrest Community Leadership, and the Stonecrest Beautification Committee. He is also a member of the city’s Arabia Mountain Overlay Steering Committee.

Rob Turner has served as program operations manager for the Georgia Department of Labor’s Staff Development Distance Learning Center. In this capacity, he serves as the liaison for 43 Career Centers and governmental agencies throughout the state in the conceptual development and production of research and training videos, workshops, career fairs, and teleconferences. Councilman Turner is president of IMPACT Consulting, an educational and professional development firm with a major emphasis on leadership development and staff efficacy. Councilman Turner and his wife Vickie founded The Augustine Preparatory Academy of Atlanta, a preschool thru eighth grade private, independent Christian school in DeKalb County, where he served as chancellor for nine years. As chancellor, Councilman Turner set the course and directives for the school, providing guidance and oversight for operations, budget, and governance. Councilman Turner serves as the director of the city’s Film Commission and has the goal of making Stonecrest a flourishing destination for film and entertainment by promoting the city to motion picture studios, television networks, and digital entertainment companies. The commission will identify and create signature events for film and entertainment focused on bringing tourists and industry to the city. We are developing an online film permit process that will include uploading permit forms, location list, and all system contracts for productions to ensure that we are a camera-ready city.

A city of Stonecrest Special Report

July 28, 2018

responsibility Michael Harris, city manager. The CAFR evaluated the city’s accounting system and budgetary controls. Harris said the city did the extensive financial report to maintain a sense of accountability and transparency. The CAFR listed the city’s total net position as a surplus of $271,964 at the end of 2017. The city recently hired Joel Thibodeaux, former chairman of the Stonecrest Governor’s Commission, as its financial auditor. ThiboJoel Thibodeaux deaux will be responsible for consistently auditing the city’s financial records, establishing internal financial controls, procurement, and the spending of the city’s Special Local Option Tax funds.

ing across the city

onecrest include the Brightstone DeKalb Medical munity (left), and new home construction is underway

foot shopping plaza that will replace a recently demolished, outdated corner store. n Courtesy Dodge Chrysler Jeep is constructing a new dealership adjacent to Walmart on Mall Parkway, and Mayor Jason Lary and the city council recently approved construction of a 21,600-square-foot office and retail development at 6721 Covington Highway near DeKalb Medical Parkway.

City

CrossRoadsNews

Stonecrest

Beautification is an important cornerstone of the city By Adrion Bell

Stonecrest employs four code enforcement officers who are responsible for enforcing municipal codes, many of which are centered around maintaining the aesthetics of the city. Our four officers cover the city’s 29 square miles effectively and have responded to 1,733 complaints since July 2017. They conducted 2,824 inspections for occupational tax compliance, property maintenance, alcohol licensing, and building code violations. The city’s first code enforcement officers were also applauded for working with Mayor Jason Lary to demolish a vacant hotel that stood near the Mall at Stonecrest for nearly nine years. The city’s beautification is one of its cornerstones and essential for the type of development that we desire, according to the mayor. “We are aligned with Keep DeKalb Beautiful so that our medians and right of ways are maintained,” he said. Mayor Lary and City Council recently appointed 11 people to the Stonecrest Development Authority. This group of local business owners and economic development specialists will develop and promote for the public good and general welfare, trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities for the city, according to the mayor. Lary recently joined forces with Doug Stoner to aid in the building, training, and management of the Development Authority. Stoner, a former state representative and senator, serves as the chairman of the South Cobb Redevelopment Authority, managing director of the Development Authority of DeKalb, a consultant for The Atlanta Beltline Partnership Inc., and chairman of the Cobb Transit Advisory Board. Training for Development Authority members began recently. They will soon complete training at the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute. Authority members will take tours of other cities like Smyrna to research the works of their counterparts and their development success. Once fully trained, the Stonecrest Development Authority will have the ability access financial resources and incentives to advance the city’s economic development. The Development Authority could is-

Code enforcement officers have investigated more than 1,575 code violations, and citizens have chipped in to help clean up the city.

such as the funding of infrastructure projects or the creation of a downtown city center. The city’s Economic Development Director, Sabrina Wright, is proactively working to recruit businesses to occupy vacant commercial and industrial space. Wright is also working with Councilman Jimmy Clanton on a Shop Stonecrest Initiative that will encourage people to spend their dollars in the city. The mayor and Wright also attended an International Council of Shopping Centers Real Estate Convention (ReCon) recently. The convention is the world’s largest retail real estate convention and provides attendees with global networking opportunities and professional development. Mayor Lary said that they have a lot of things working to make Stonecrest a worldclass city. “Our quality residential developments will increase our area’s household income New projects are keeping our building averages,” he said. “When you have an averinspectors busy and more than 965 building age household income of $85,000 or more, and land development inspections have been companies, nice restaurants, and various completed. amenities are attracted.” sue bonds for business redevelopment and The residential building boom also helps growth, to incentivize economic investments existing businesses thrive.

of experiences while providing effective leadership for the city Jazzmin Cobble, District 3

George Turner, District 4

Diane Daniels Adoma, District 5

Jazzmin Randall Cobble, MPA, GCPA, serves Georgia residents as the operations manager for the Department of Audits and Accounts where she has also earned the Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate Certification. Additionally, this fall she will complete the Georgia Budget and Financial Management Certification. Councilwoman Cobble holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Albany State University. She also holds a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in Government and Nonprofit Management from DeVry University. She has worked in Georgia State government for the past eight years through the Departments of Human Resources, Community Health, and Public Health. Councilwoman Cobble is excited to have served District 3 for the past year. In that year, District 3 focused on community cleanups and district community committees. District 3 collaborated with Keep DeKalb Beautiful and adopted the streets that border the district. Our city code enforcement officers have been instrumental in District 3 and in the future, we look forward to pairing city public safety services to continue cultivating safer communities. Councilwoman Cobble serves as the chairwoman of the City’s Finance Committee. She works closely with the city manager, accounting manager, and internal auditor to ensure the city’s finances are in good order and compliant with state laws. She also collaborates with the mayor, city manager, and fellow council members to approve the annual budget and other special financial projects.

George Turner Jr. is a retired MARTA employee where he served for 29 years in several positions including the general superintendent. Councilman Turner has served on several boards, commissions, associations, and volunteer groups to improve the quality of life for South DeKalb residents. Councilman Turner has lived in Stonecrest’s fourth district for more than 25 years and is the past president of the DeKalb County District 5 Community Council. He is very familiar with the codes of DeKalb County and governmental operations. His eight years of volunteer service with the Georgia General Assembly has given him great insight into the operations of state and federal government. He served on the Board of Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area and is currently President of Hunters Run II Homeowners Association. In January 2018 Councilman George Turner was elected as Mayor Pro Tem by the city council. In addition, he was appointed to coordinate the postal designation of Stonecrest, GA as an official mailing address with the USPS. As a result, the official recognition date took effect on May 5, 2018. Councilman Turner was appointed co-chair of the Arabia Mountain Overlay Steering Committee to help define the boundaries of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Overlay District and its associated text. These recommendations will be presented to City Council for adoption.

Diane Daniels Adoma is the co-owner of a new technology startup called Status Corporation and is a consulting strategist for Smart City Readiness with DEMO Consulting LLC. She and her ex-husband owned Adoma & Associates and were the first African Americans to own an H&R Block franchise in the southeastern United States. Councilwoman Adoma is an alumna of Vote Run Lead (VRL) and believes community engagement is the rent we pay to breathe on this earth. Councilwoman Adoma is a 25-year veteran businesswoman who has worked with companies such as Adoma & Associates dba H&R Block, Turner Broadcasting, AT&T and many others. Councilwoman Adoma is a graduate of Capella University with a Ph.D. in Leadership and Organizational Management with an emphasis in human resources, a Master’s degree from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University with an emphasis in marketing. Councilwoman Adoma is a member of the Arabia Mountain Overlay Committee, the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, and serves as president of the Brooks Mill Homeowner’s Association and Friends of the Salem Panola Library.

A city of Stonecrest Special Report

City

CrossRoadsNews

July 28, 2018

Stonecrest

ZIP Codes, police, no tax increase, dining options and other FAQs When will the Atlanta Sports City Complex begin construction? The Atlanta Sports City is owned and operated by a private company, APD Solutions. While the mayor, council and city hall staff are supportive and excited about the proposed development, we don’t set the timelines for APD. For more information please visit www. atlantasportscity.com. When will the Stonecrest City Limit signs be placed and why has it taken so long? City limit signs are placed by DeKalb County and the Georgia Department of Transportation. We are working with GDOT to better define our geographical borders which, according to our charter, split certain roads. Our staff is in the final stages of meeting GDOT’s requirements. The signs must be manufactured and should be in place by the end of the year. Does Stonecrest have its own ZIP Code and can this be used as a part of the mailing address? Earlier this year, the U.S. Postal Service authorized residents and businesses to begin replacing Lithonia with Stonecrest when using its mailing services. The majority of Stonecrest is in the 30038 ZIP code, though some parts of the city are in 30058. Councilman George Turner is working on getting a Stonecrest Post Office with a unique ZIP code. Is the city still planning on forming a police department? Yes, the police department is still in the plans. Some of the money gained from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) will be used to buy equipment for the new department. A Stonecrest police chief is slated to be hired in 2019. What parks and recreational areas will the city be responsible for? There are nine parks totaling more than 2,674 acres and a senior center in Stonecrest. These include Browns Mill Park and Aquatic Center, Southeast Athletic Complex, Davidson Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, and the Lou Walker Senior Center. The mayor and council recently discussed acquiring the parks individually instead of all at once. The acquisitions should begin in 2019. The city is planning on hiring a parks and recreation director later this year. Will my taxes go up with the new city plans? Taxes in Stonecrest have not increased and there are no immediate plans for a tax increase in the future. The city and DeKalb County will benefit from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax that voters passed last year. This will fund the city’s capital improvements, roads

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

The $200 million, 200-acre Atlanta Sports City at Stonecrest complex was unveiled by developers on Feb 22, 2017.

and infrastructure, and equipment for the police department.

What will it take to bring fine dining and upscale amenities to Stonecrest? According to Entrepreneur Magazine, here are things to consider when choosing a business location: n Demographics: Does the community have a stable economic foundation that will provide a healthy, longlasting environment for the business? According to Restaurant Advisory Service’s website, median household incomes play an important role in the decision on where to locate all restaurants from fast food to fine dining. For casual theme restaurants like TGI Friday’s, the median household income must be at least $35,000. Fine dining restaurants can require a median income of $60,000 or more. Consideration should also be given to who the customers are and their proximity to the location. n Foot and automobile traffic: Most retail businesses and restaurants thrive on foot traffic. It allows the retail

business to visually stimulate the window shopper and restaurants to attract customers with the smell of their cuisine. A good flow of commuter, automobile traffic also helps a business thrive. n Proximity to other businesses and services: Thriving businesses nearby can attract customers and employees who can also become your customers. For example, restaurants often attract lunch crowds from surrounding businesses. Stonecrest has the two of the factors listed by Entrepreneur Magazine. The city’s 2017 median household income is $45,156 and the average household income is $59,817. The mayor, council, and staff are working to bring high-end homes into the area. This will attract buyers with higher incomes which will make our median and average household incomes more attractive to fine dining and upscale amenities. — Adrion Bell

The Stonecrest timeline:

City Hall Ribbon Cutting on Nov. 11, 2017.

n March 24, 2016: Senate Bill

n January 2017: 20 candidates

n November 2016: Residents

n March 21, 2017: Stonecrest holds

208 passes authorizing Stonecrest referendum approve city of Stonecrest in referendum vote

qualify to run for mayor and city council first election

n May 8, 2017: Mayor and five

council members host first council meeting

to attract the tech giant’s second headquarters

n July 12, 2017: Stonecrest opens

n Nov. 11, 2017: City Hall grand

n Oct. 2, 2017: Mayor Jason Lary

n Dec. 29, 2017: Stonecrest passes

for first day of business

proposes creating a city of Amazon

A city of Stonecrest Special Report

opening

its first budget of $6.2 million

July 28, 2018

CrossRoadsNews

Youth

July 28, 2018

More than 5,000 people attended the 13th annual Expo on the Mall at Stonecrest’s lower level.

Rocking the 2018 Family and Back-to-School Expo Audience members at the 13th annual CrossRoadsNews Family and Backto-School Expo get their groove on during an impromptu line dance in front the Main Stage.

DeKalb Schools Superintendent R. Stephen Green, his wife Kimberly, and granddaughter Sanaya pose with school system mascots The Reading Ram and McGruff the Crime Dog. Chef Asata Reid and an audience volunteer put together a fresh fruit parfait with yogurt, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, honey and granola.

Expo title sponsor Kaiser Permanente gave away 200 clear backpacks and other school supplies while they lasted. Dancers from Georgia Stars Academy of Dance Dazzling Gems Majorettes entertained the audience from Expo’s Main Stage.

The Jr. MGT Drill Team presented a precision military-style step drill on the Expo’s Main Stage in front of Foot Locker.

Jan Reynolds of Icon Models and Talent (left) coordinated the Back-to-School Fashion Show. Kaiser Permanente Educational Theater used a game-show format to demonstrate ways to recognize and deal with stress.

DeKalb SolicitorGeneral Donna ColemanStribling talked about the importance of attending school every day.

Photos & Page Design by Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Grand prize winner Tamela Lewis (right) and her children Faith Jackson and Tamel Jackson pose with Jennifer Parker, CrossRoadsNews editor and publisher (left).

CrossRoadsNews

July 28, 2018

Youth

“When you care enough to say that they’re important, they’re going to care enough to say that I am worth it.”

Rock Chapel Elementary transformed by School Crashers grant

By Bryce Ethridge

When students return to Rock Chapel Elementary on Aug. 6, they are going to be so surprised. Instead of the drab building they left in May, they will find freshly painted walls, a giant mural in the cafeteria, 21 mini-murals of their revamped mascot, new furniture in the media center, a hands-on STEM garden/ outdoor classroom where they can grow peaches, apples, cucumbers, kale, collard greens and spinach, freshly planted shrubbery around the school, and a new school sign. All the improvements, made July 21-22 by 250 volunteers, are compliments of a $100,000-plus School Crashers grand prize grant awarded in May from Georgia United Credit Union’s School Crashers program. The program, in its fifth year, offers Title 1 schools statewide the opportunity to apply for campus makeover grants. It is Georgia United’s largest community outreach program. With the eight 2018 recipients, the program has reached 33 schools and exceeded $1 million in total improvements. All proj-

Bryce Ethridge / CrossRoadsNews

More than 250 volunteers painted walls and murals, installed new furniture in the media center, and planted a hands-on STEM garden/outdoor classroom at the Lithonia school.

ects are completed over the summer break with school, community and credit union volunteers. Lisa Green, Rock Chapel’s principal, said the makeover feels amazing and that the kids will feel like they are returning to a brand new school. “I think it will inspire them to do better,” she said. “I think when you care enough to say that they’re important, they’re going to

care enough to say that I am worth it.” To transform the Lithonia-based school, the volunteer force of teachers, parents, community supporters and employees from DeKalb County School District and Georgia United Credit Union worked hard over the two days transforming the school into an inviting environment. Green thinks her school, located at 1130 Rock Chapel Road, landed the 2018 grand

prize because of its compelling story and application package. “I went back to 1825 where a log cabin was originally built for Rock Chapel and I talked about our history, our legacy and what we’re about,” she said. “Then I incorporated our vision: Together we rise.” Five of the seven runner-up “minicrash” schools who received smaller grants of $10,000-$20,000 to complete specific improvement projects are from DeKalb County too. They are Bob Mathis, Evansdale, Briarlake and Hightower elementaries and Sequoyah Middle School. Coker Elementary in Chatsworth and Hightower Trail Elementary in Conyers are the others. Georgia United Credit Union, started in 1958 by seven DeKalb County educators, is now one of the largest credit unions in Georgia with $1.3 billion in assets, 160,000 members and 19 branch locations. It created the School Crashers program to update and repair cash-strapped school facilities and grounds because SPLOST can only fund capital projects. Each year, more than 300 schools apply for the grants. For more information, visit gucu.org or email kim.wall@gucu.org.

Schools hosting open houses Aug. 1-2 Across the district, all DeKalb County schools will open their doors to students and parents Aug. 1-2 for open house events. DeKalb Schools starts the new school year on Aug. 6 and open houses offer new and returning students the opportunity to meet teachers and administrators, and to familiarize themselves with their school campuses before the first day of the new school year. Elementary and middle schools will host open houses on Aug. 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., respectively. On Aug. 2, high schools will host ninth graders and new students from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and all returning students from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Some schools have alternative open house dates and times and the district encourages parents and guardians to double check schedules with their individual schools and their websites. Visit www.dekalbschoolsga.org/back-toschool-2018 for more information.

Roswell, GA 30075 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated May 17, 2018. You are hereby notified that May 8, 2018, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Joy-Alexis Outur, 4401 Luxembourg Way, Decatur, GA 30034. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of May 17, 2018. Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 17th day of July, 2018

Legal Notices 07/28, 08/04, 08/11, 08/18

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 18FM1833-2 Joy-Alexis Outur PLAINTIFF

Marketplace Vision Services

VS Osadebanan Ode DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: 2918 Hemingway Lane

07/28, 08/04, 08/11, 08/18

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 18FM5526 Giana Shabazz PLAINTIFF VS Rosaldo Shabazz DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Rosaldo Shabazz 1577 N. Military Trl. W. Palm Beach, FL 33409

FOR RENT/LEASE

HELP WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS

3 bdrm; 1 bath house; 2839 Mitchell Pl., Dec.; betwn McAfee & Columbia Dr.; $780. mo. + 1 mo. sec. dep.; R. Daniels 912313-2956

Custodian/Solid Rock AME Zion in Lith.; P/T;9am-1pm;Tues/ Thurs/Sat; exp. req; call 770-9813303;10am-1pm;Tues/Thurs. to apply; or leave VM w/your info for Mrs. Rowell

Open Letter: Dear Mr. Vansquila/ Mr. Browski; on Jun. 17th I married Deborah Pooley; she lives here with me; please call me & discuss co. changes; no parking lot now; thank you; Mark L. Brady-404-921-9041

legal

JHC

By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated July 16, 2018. You are hereby notified that May 18, 2018, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Giana Shabazz, 5256 Galfcrest Circle, Stone Mountain, GA 30088. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of July 17, 2018. Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 17th day of July, 2018

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Public Notice

CrossRoadsNews

July 28, 2018

6th Annual SENIORS

Emcee Jazzy Jan Martin Fashion Show with Jan "Movie Star" Reynolds

Beulah Boys

renew, recharge, reimagine! October 13, 2018 • Noon - 5 p.m. at the Mall at Stonecrest Title Sponsor:

Celebrating a Decade of Education & Empowerment

Food & Fitness Demos • Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Entertainment & Performances

Limited number of Exhibitors space available.

Award-Winning Community Expos

Call 404-284-1888 • E-mail Expos@crossroadsnews.com