CrossRoadsNews, June 9, 2018 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

WELLNESS

Encore partnership

Put Litter in Its Place

Avoiding salmonella

The DeKalb NAACP is partnering with the “I Am a Father 5K Run/Walk” again in its second annual Juneteenth celebration. 4

In warmer weather, individuals and families can keep the bacteria at bay by following these tips – clean, separate, and chill. 9

Let’s Do Our Part to Keep DeKalb Beautiful

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

June 9, 2018

Volume 24, Number 6

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DeKalb Schools sues Atlanta over Emory annexation By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb Schools is suing the city of Atlanta over its ordinance that allows Atlanta Public Schools to take up to nine DeKalb students and more than $2 million in revenues from the district. The district filed the lawsuit on June 4 in Fulton County Superior Court. It is seeking an injunction to stop APS from enrolling the DeKalb students by its July 1 deadline and begin taking the property taxes from it. Dr. R. Stephen Green, the district’s superintendent, said they need the injunction as soon as possible to stop the transfer of the district’s resources into the coffers of APS. “If we get the injunction, the annexation is off,” he said June 5. “It freezes everything so that we can develop a proper

“We have been seeking a resolution that would not negatively affect us,” he said. “I am still hopeful that we can come together and work out a solution that does no harm to us.” Green calls the lawsuit a last resort. “A preferable outcome is that we sit down at the table and work out a favorable agreement,” he said. “If we come together, we could work out an intergovernmental agreement or work through other solutions.” Stephen Green The dispute centers around the annexation of 744 acres which include Emory University, the Centers for Disease protocol for moving forward.” Control and Prevention, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta The lawsuit comes after months of DCSD trying to bring into the city of Atlanta. the city of Atlanta and Atlanta Public School to the table for DCSD had previously had supported the annexation on discussions. the understanding the annexed properties would remain Green said they tried to get the parties to sit down, and when that failed they had no option but to go to court. Please LAWSUIT, page 3

“We have been seeking a resolution that would not negatively affect us. I am still hopeful that we can come together and work out a solution that does no harm to us.”

Troop connects girls with their moms in prison Girl Scouts program tends relationship On the last Saturday of each month, while most of their peers are sleeping in, a handful of DeKalb schoolgirls travel more than 60 miles to Lee Arrendale State Prison in Alto, Ga., where they have a 9:30 a.m. meeting with their mothers. During the two-hour supervised session, the mothers and daughters talk about school, boys, and the future. They discuss past mistakes and how to make good decisions, they participate in scout-based activities, and they share a prison meal. The DeKalb girls are members of Troop 17060, part of the nationwide Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program, introduced in Georgia in September 2017 to connect school-aged girls with their incarcerated mothers. One of the girls not only has to visit her mother in prison – her grandmother is also behind bars at a separate facility. There are a dozen members of Troop 17060, ages 7 to 16, who share this common bond as daughters of Lee Arrendale inmates. Most of the girls live with aunts and uncles or grandparents, because their fathers are also either incarcerated or otherwise absent. Troop leader Jessica Sykes says that being without their fathers is a problem for thousands of girls across Georgia. “I’m yet to meet a dad,” said Sykes, an Atlantabased volunteer. Sykes fought red tape for more than three years to get the pilot Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program Jessica Sykes started at Lee Arrendale with support from the Georgia Department of Corrections and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, hearing eight “no”s before a “yes.” Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, which started

Incarcerated mothers and their daughters participate in the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program at Lee Arrendale State Prison in Alto, Georgia.

in Maryland about 25 years ago, is also now operating in states such as Florida, Ohio, Arizona, Texas, Washington and Oregon. Sykes says there is a 70 percent chance that the daughters of incarcerated women will end up behind bars themselves. “It’s sad,” said Sykes, who lost her own mother to breast cancer as a 13-year-old and is trying to save these young girls from becoming a statistic. “These girls need help.” Sykes is the founder and executive director of The Motherless Village of Hope, a nonprofit that mentors girls who have lost their mothers to death or incarceration. She found out about the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program in other states and brought it to Georgia. She said she has seen many local young girls heading down the wrong path, including a Newton County teenager who ran away

with the intention of committing a crime so she could be reunited with her mother in prison. “That’s all she wanted – to be with her mom,” Sykes said. “What’s important to me with this program is that communication is there between moms and daughters, they get to sit down and talk on a regular basis.” Sykes says it’s also important for young girls to hear their mothers explain their mistakes and how they got to be in prison, so history doesn’t repeat. “They need to hear that from their own mother’s mouth,” she said. “Most of the time you hear a mother say she had a good upbringing and went to church but just made some bad decisions.” Sykes already sees the benefits to both mothers and daughters participating in the program. She hopes to solidify the program

at Lee Arrendale before expanding it to other Georgia prisons. Expansion will require sponsorship or funding, which Sykes calls “our biggest hiccup right now.” “Girl Scouts pays for the troop uniforms and the prison provides the meals, but that’s it,” Sykes said. Her ultimate goal is to offer young girls the tools they need to move forward in a positive direction with their lives, despite their mothers being imprisoned. Sykes says some of the mothers will never get out of jail. For others, their daughters will be in their 40s when they’re released. “My job, if I possibly can, is to make sure these girls have good relationships with their mothers,” Sykes said. “I know what it feels Please see TROOP, page 4

Community

CrossRoadsNews

June 9, 2018

Moore’s neighbors told WSB-TV that he built a homemade roller coaster to lure children to his backyard.

GBI seeks help identifying child victims of sexual molestation

By Bryce Etheridge

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is seeking victims of Dectavious Thomas Moore, who was is in DeKalb County Jail facing charges of sexually molesting up to eight children. DeKalb Police arDectavious T. Moore rested Moore, 35, at his Lithonia home on May 31 charging him with two counts of child molestation, one count each of aggravated sexual battery and enticing a child for indecent purposes.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says that agents searched Moore’s home at 2552 Kelley St. and found evidence that sexually explicit images of the children, ages 7 to 14, had been produced at the residence. Investigators were able to identify only three of the victims. They say additional charges are expected. Moore’s neighbors told WSB-TV that he built a homemade roller coaster to lure children to his backyard. A Lithonia Housing Authority employee recently tore it down. This isn’t the first time Moore has been arrested for such acts. In September 2017, Newton County

On May 31st a Lithonia city worker destroyed a handmade roller coaster that was built at a public housing complex by an accused child molester.

Matt Johnson / WSB

Sheriff ’s Office investigators arrested him for having child pornography on his phone. They charged him with enticing a child for indecent purposes.

The GBI is asking anyone with information about Moore’s victims to contact its Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at Tips@gbi.ga.gov or 404-470-8870.

DeKalb residents can unload bulky items like old furniture and appliances for curbside pick-up by the county every Friday and Saturday in June. DeKalb Sanitation Division will collect the items, free of charge, as part of the county’s 2018 Operation Spring Clean Sweep based on residents’ designated sanitation collection service day.

scheduled collection day is Wednesday will be serviced on Friday, June 22, and Saturday, June 23. n Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is on Thursday will be serviced Friday, June 29, and Saturday, June 30. For any missed collections based on this schedule, residents should call 404-2942900. Operation Spring Clean Sweep is a multidepartmental initiative focused on litter collection, illegal dumping, and the removal of debris, trash and grass from streets, neighborhoods, sidewalks, roadway drains and county rights of way. For more information, email sanitation@ dekalbcountyga.gov, visit www.dekalbsanitation.com, call 404-294-2900, or follow @ DKalbSanitation.

Bigger recycling carts in Stonecrest DeKalb to pick up bulky items in June By Rosie Manins Stonecrest residents and homeowners can exchange their existing 18-gallon recycling bins for complimentary 35-gallon roll carts on June 16. During the roll-cart exchange, they can also upgrade to a 65-gallon roll cart for $15. DeKalb Sanitation Division, in partnership with the city of Stonecrest, is hosting the exchange event from 9 a.m. to noon at Stonecrest City Hall, 3120 Stonecrest Boulevard. New recycling subscriptions will also be processed. As part of the county’s mandatory exchange program, residents must get new recycling carts by Dec. 28. Only 500 roll carts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. All applicants

must complete a recycling subscription form at the event. Carts will be delivered to the service address within 15 business days of the event. Residents who miss the June 16 event can request roll carts at www.dekalbsanitation.com. DeKalb Sanitation takes roll cart exchange requests on an ongoing basis by mail, online, or in person at its office, 3720 Leroy Scott Drive in Decatur. The office is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the June 16 event, DeKalb Watershed Management team members will provide information on clogs caused by fats, oils and grease. For more information, visit www.dekalbsanitation.gov, email sanitation3720@ dekalbcountyga.gov, or call 404-2942900.

Here’s the pickup schedule n Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Monday will be serviced on Friday, June 8, and Saturday, June 9. n Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday will be serviced on Friday, June 15, and Saturday, June 16. n Residential customers whose regularly

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June 9, 2018

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“Poor planning is not an excuse for not following the law.”

County attorney defends DeKalb BOC’s vote on $24,107 raise

By Rosie Manins

DeKalb County is denying that it violated the state’s Open Meetings law when the Board of Commissioners failed to add notice of a large salary increase for itself to its Feb. 27 meeting agenda. In a May 24 response to inquiries from Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr’s office, interim County Attorney Viviane Ernstes says that even Viviane Ernstes though the BOC failed to put the raise on its advertised agenda, commissioners acted within the confines of Georgia law by advertising the intent to raise their salaries in the county’s legal organ prior to the meeting. The 6-1 vote on Feb. 27 increased the commissioners’ base part-time salary by $24,107 — 59.4 percent — to $64,637, up from $40,530. Commissioners get an annual increase of $1,500 to their annual base pay, and a maximum of three longevity increases of 2.5 percent each, for every full four-year term that they serve. In a March 6 ethics complaint to the attorney general, Lithonia resident Ed Williams argued that the board was obliged under law to put the salary raise on the Feb. 27 meeting agenda so that citizens could comment. Commissioners ap- Ed Williams proved the increase at the meeting without any discussion. Ernstes said the legal notice, stating that the financial impact of the raise would be an extra $229,660 annually, was published by the county on Feb. 8 and twice again in the lead-up to the Feb. 27 meeting. The county’s response followed Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Colangelo’s May 15 letter to the county in the wake of Williams’ ethics complaint. In that letter, which gave the county 10 days to respond, Colangelo said she reviewed the agenda and meeting minutes. “I did not see the topic of salary increases on the agenda, but the meeting minutes show that the Commission voted on that matter,”

she wrote. “I would appreciate a response to Mr. Williams’ complaint.” Ernstes’ letter said DeKalb intends to comply fully with the Open Meetings Act, and “the county has done so in this instance.” “In short, the salary item was added the day of the BOC meeting and not previously listed on the agenda because, up to the day before the vote, the General Assembly was considering legislation to increase salaries and county elected officials wanted to provide as much time as possible for the General Assembly to act,” Ernstes said. She said DeKalb commissioners were hoping state legislators would implement a salary raise themselves prior to Feb. 27, negating a BOC vote. But, when that did not happen, commissioners took matters into their own hands and advertised the intended raise in the county’s legal organ, as required by law, then went ahead with the vote. Ernstes says a vote on the salary increase had to be done by March 5 – the qualifying deadline for candidates in the May 22 primary and nonpartisan elections – and the Feb. 27 meeting was the last opportunity for the BOC to act. Under state law, a vote to increase salaries cannot occur between the qualifying deadline and Jan. 1 of the following year. She also said that if the BOC did not vote on the salary ordinance at the Feb. 27 meeting, there could be no salary increase under state law for commissioners until 2021. She said commissioners also believed that it would be confusing to add a possible salary raise to the Feb. 27 meeting agenda in advance of that date, while state legislators were still considering a salary raise at the General Assembly. “Since the legislature did not act on or before Feb. 26, the county added the salary ordinance as a walk-on item on Feb. 27 when it became necessary to approve the item prior to the statutory deadline for the BOC to act,” Ernstes wrote. “Because the action was made in accordance with the salary statute and is permitted by O.C.G.A. (Official Code of Georgia Annotated), the Open Meetings Act was not violated.” The new $64,637 base pay, which goes into effect Jan. 1, makes DeKalb commission-

DCSD claims ‘irreparable harm’ LAWSUIT,

from page

with the DeKalb school district. It contends that an APS expansion into DeKalb County was not part of the original discussions about the annexation but at the last minute, the Atlanta City Council passed an ordinance including it without proper readings and notification. In the lawsuit, DCSD said it will “suffer immediate and irreparable harm” should the provisions requiring that public school eligible students living within the Emory annexation enroll in the APS school system go into effect on July 1, 2018. The district said the city council failed to fulfill its duty, and that council president Felicia Moore, in her official capacity, did not require reading of the legislation in two separate regular meetings as required by Atlanta’s City Charter. DCSD also wants the court to bar the city of Atlanta from enforcing the provisions requiring students to enroll in the APS school system by July 1, 2018, order a trial by jury, and declare the ordinances null and void. It is also asking for costs and expenses of litigation, including reasonable attorney’s fees; and that the court grant it other relief as it deems appropriate. Emory University announced in August 2016 that it, the CDC, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta were seeking to join the city of Atlanta.

DeKalb Board of Commissioners and Atlanta reached agreement on the annexation on Sept. 26, 2017. DCSD said it did not oppose the annexation because it was told that the district would not be impacted. But on Nov. 29, 2017, the school district said the Atlanta City Council Zoning Committee introduced and passed a substitute ordinance that extended the boundaries of APS to include the entire Emory annexation. Five days later, on Dec. 4, 2017, the City Council voted to approve the substitute ordinance. DeKalb School district, which is Georgia’s third largest school system, serves nearly 102,000 students in 137 schools and centers. It has 15,500 employees. By contrast, APS has an enrollment of about 54,000 students who attend 103 schools. “DCSD services nearly twice as many students as APS, but receives proportionally less funding per student than APS,” the lawsuit said. “Any expansion of APS’s school zoning boundaries into annexed areas decreases the taxable real property base from which DCSD draws a significant portion of its funding and impairs its ability to operate and adequately fund its schools,” the district said. The city of Atlanta has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit and Moore’s office declined comment. “I cannot comment on the specifics of pending litigation,” Moore said in a June 4 statement.

ers among the highest paid commissioners in metro Atlanta. Williams, who was one of three candidates who opposed Super District 7 Commissioner Gregory Adams in the May 22 Democratic primary, called the county’s response “hogwash.” “I will wait to see what the assistant attorney general’s response to that is,” he said May 30. “But regardless I intend to take legal action against the county.” Williams wants the county to rescind the salary raise because he says the BOC does not have the legal authority to vote themselves a pay increase. “If [Colangelo] responds and says they’re not going to accept the county’s explanation then we would have to go to mediation,” he said. “If the attorney general accepts the county’s explanation, then I have no other option but to file court action against DeKalb.”

In her May 15 letter, Colangelo said the attorney general has the discretionary authority to enforce the Open Records Act and the Open Meetings Act, and that it has chosen to exercise that discretion by establishing a mediation program that attempts to resolve disputes between citizens and local governments. The attorney general also reserves the right to pursue litigation in matters where it deems doing so is appropriate, she said. Williams said the DeKalb Board of Commissioners should have called a special meeting between Feb. 27 and March 5, to discuss the salary increase. He said that would have allowed time for the item to be publicly advertised correctly and added to an agenda, while still within the commissioners’ timeframe for approving a raise. “Poor planning is not an excuse for not following the law,” Williams said.

CrossRoadsNews

Community

June 9, 2018

“The children of incarcerated parents are often the forgotten victims of crime.”

Juneteenth, I Am A Father 5K Run/Walk together again Runners and walkers warm up at the 2017 I Am a Father 5K. The event, in its fourth year, is partnering with the DeKalb NAACP in its celebration of Juneteenth.

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.

Poets, spoken word artists, dancers, drummers and choirs will showcase their talents at the DeKalb NAACP’s second annual Juneteenth “Celebration of Freedom” on June 16 at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center. The 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. event is being held in partnership with the fourth annual “I Am a Father 5K Run/Walk.” Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that slaves in Galveston, Texas, finally found out that they had been freed – two years earlier – by the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. It is considered the oldest known celebration of the end of U.S. slavery in the United States. This year marks the 155th anniversary of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. African-American communities across the country observe Juneteenth with festivals, picnics, barbecues and other community events. Teresa Hardy, president of the DeKalb NAACP, said performers will include ACT-SO youth, Shy Temple CME African Drummers, Rainbow Park Baptist Church Choir, the Caribbean Dance Group, the Icon Models, and gospel artist Joseph Wheeler. “The NAACP DeKalb County will continue in tradition by hosting this event to focus on education, self-preservation and self-improvement,” Hardy said. The day’s activities kick off at 8:30 a.m. with the I Am a Father 5K Run/Walk, which promotes organ donor awareness and celebrates fathers. David Manuel, the walk founder/organizer, said they are happy to partner with the NAACP again, as they enter their fourth year. “This signature event promotes health and wellness, organ donation and community bonding,” he said. The NAACP’s Freedom Fighters team is participating in the walk, which starts across the street at Greenforest Community Baptist Church, 3250 Rainbow Drive. The 3.1-mile route travels along Rainbow Drive to Columbia Drive, makes a U-turn at Columbia Elementary

Participants registering for the 2017 DeKalb NAACP first Juneteenth celebration at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center, where the event will be held again on June 17.

Photos by Curtis Parker/ CrossRoadsNews

Presentations and discussions, like this one at the 2017 Juneteenth Celebration, will take place on June 17. There will also dancing, singing, drumming and other performances.

School and terminates at the Porter Sanford Center. The Juneteenth festivities with entertainment, workshops, cultural foods, and vendors begins at the end of the walk. It is free to attend. The Porter Sanford Center is at 3181 Rainbow Drive. Registration for “I Am a Father 5K Run/ Walk” ranges from $10 for the Tot Trot to $30

for individuals. Visit https://www.iamafather5k. org to register. The Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom is free to attend but registration is required at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/naacp-dekalb-county-juneteenth-celebration-tickets42729565280. For sponsorship and vendor opportunities or to become a volunteer, email naacpdek@ comcast.net or call 404-241-8006.

Mothers must have clean prison record to participate TROOP,

Circulation Audited By

Since 2003

from page

like to lose your mother as a young girl and that’s part of the reason why I’m so passionate about it.” To participate in the program, incarcerated mothers must have a clean inmate record with no disciplinary reports, and they must commit to being involved in the monthly sessions for at least a year. Inmates are interviewed and vetted by Sykes who refuses any who aren’t right for the program, or who don’t meet other eligibility criteria. The daughters’ caregivers must also commit to one year of sessions. Their job is to transport the girls to and from the prison, on time, every month. For some of the girls, it’s the first time they’ve

had someone take them to see their mothers in prison. “It’s important that they are able to, as much as possible, have a normal life and share it with their mom,” Sykes said. “One mother is getting out within the next 18 months and we’re already discussing how we’re going to help her transition back into society.” Sykes won’t take any girl younger than 7 or older than 17 – the age at which people can visit an inmate on their own. Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Gregory Dozier says the organization is committed to reinforcing the mother/daughter bond and rebuilding relationships through Girl Scouts Beyond Bars. “The children of incarcerated parents are often the forgotten victims of crime,” he said. Sonya Howard, of Girl Scouts of Historic

Georgia, said the girls’ prison visits are not just so they can see their mothers- for some, it’s also the only chance for them to see siblings. “Many girls are separated from their siblings as a result of their mother’s incarceration,” Howard said May 30. “The meetings serve as the only time for the siblings to be together.” She said meaningful mother/daughter relationships and a sense of continuity lead to improved closeness, openness, sharing, engagement, and developing loving, trusting bonds and happy memories. “Self-esteem is improved by knowing their situation is not unique,” Howard said. “Girls learn conflict resolution skills and they are also better able to resolve issues with their moms and move forward.” To donate, or for more information about the Georgia program, email girlscoutsbeyondbarsga@gmail.com.

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June 9, 2018

“However, at this time my wife, my children and the New Birth Birmingham family need my full attention.”

Bishop Stephen Davis steps down at New Birth after 16 months

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Sixteen months after his arrival to lead New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Bishop Stephen A. Davis has stepped down. The Lithonia-based church said in a June 5 statement that its board of directors accepted Davis’ resignation. It said Davis is returning to Birmingham to concentrate on the former Refiners House Church, the ministry he founded that became a part of the New Birth family in 2010. The statement said Davis is bittersweet about stepping down. “I love my New Birth Family both in Birmingham and Stonecrest,” he said. “However, at this time my wife, my children and the New Birth Birmingham family need my full attention.” Davis and his wife, Darlene, were formal-

300 members on Snapfinger Road in Decatur to an international ministry with more than 25,000 during it heyday in the early 2000s. At his January 2017 introduction, the church said Davis would also continue leading New Birth Birmingham and oversee the extended campus of New Birth Tuscaloosa. On Tuesday, it said “the New Birth family expresses deep love and sincere gratitude to Davis ‘for leading and guiding our congregation with heartfelt dedication and commitment, while advancing the Kingdom of God.’ ” Davis said his Birmingham church will remain a New Birth Church and will maintain a relationship with the New Birth Stonecrest Congregation. ly introduced to the New Birth congregation Eddie Long. The statement did not say when his deThe charismatic and controversial Long parture takes effect and the church did not on Jan. 29, 2017, four days after the Jan. 25 Celebration of Life service for the late Bishop grew New Birth from a sleepy little church of respond to questions about it. Bishop Stephen A. Davis, shown with his wife, Darlene, also leads New Birth Birmingham in Alabama, which he founded as Refiners House Church before it joined the New Birth family in 2010.

Chorus of choirs for Men’s Night Out Greenforest Baptist Church’s Brotherhood Choir will be one of the headliners at the church’s Men’s Night Out, June 15 at 7:30 p.m.

The Brotherhood Choir and other musical guests will headline the Men’s Night Out at Greenforest Baptist Church on June 15. Other performers for the 7:30 p.m. event include Mount Olive Baptist Church Male Chorus, Little Friendship Male Chorus, Macedonia Male Choir, Bishop JD Means,

the Rev. Timothy Flemming, and Mount Carmel Baptist Church Male Choir. Bishop Richard “Mr. Clean” White will be guest emcee. The church is at 3250 Rainbow Drive. For more information, call William Calloway at 404-486-6754.

Two-day conference to empower youth Thousands of youth and young adults are expected for the July 1314 You Power Purpose Conference at the Cobb Galleria Center, and registration is now open. The Rev. Jared Sawyer Jr., CEO and president of Jared Sawyer Jr. YPP Conference, said they are expecting more than 3,500 people for what he calls “a life-changing gathering of next-generation leaders.”

The two-day conference will be packed with workshops, exhibits, concerts, movie screenings, empowerment sessions, and other festivities. Participants can expect to see A-List celebrities from entertainment, sports, business and politics. There will also be product signings, performances and meetand-greets. Visit www.regonline.com/registration/ login.aspxeventID=2253192&MethodId=0 &EventsessionIds to register. For more information, visit www.youpowerpurpose.org or call 678-210-3880.

Fathers Day Picnic at Ray of Hope Fathers can join the men of Ray of Hope Christian Church for their June 17 Father’s Day Picnic at Wade Walker Park in Stone Mountain. The 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. event will include food, music and games at the park’s large

pavilion. Registration is required at http://rayofhope.org/fathers-day-picnic-registration. The park is at 5585 Rockbridge Road. For more information, visit www.rayofhope.org or call 770-696-5100.

Walk, rally to confront gun crimes South DeKalb residents concerned about the recent spate of gun violence can join DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson on June 15 for a Prayer with a Purpose Walk & Rally at New Life Church in Decatur. The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Participants will walk to the Intergenerational Center at Exchange Park on Columbia Drive, where the rally will take place.

Johnson, who represents District 3, said it’s time that we come together and take back our community. “As concerned community activists and residents we will not allow violence to continue to ravage our neighborhoods without a fight,” he said. New Life is at 3592 Flat Shoals Road. For more information, call 404-371-2425.

June 9, 2018

CrossRoadsNews

Wellness

CrossRoadsNews

June 9, 2018

“It is important to understand the service level we require of ourselves and our transport provider.”

AMR to provide ambulances to stations in Stonecrest, Dunwoody

The cities of Stonecrest and Dunwoody now have additional emergency medical service units from American Medical Response following an agreement between the EMS provider and DeKalb County. The additional ambulances are part of an agreement that went into effect May 28 to address AMR’s poor performance related to its Contract for EMS Transport in DeKalb County. The agreement calls for the units, detached of the Deployment Plan, to operate on a 24/7 basis to cover areas with noted low call volume/high risk for extended response times, and for AMR dispatchers located in the DeKalb E911 Center to monitor the system to ensure effective use of these resources. The emergency units will be based at DeKalb Fire Station #17 at 3900 Evans Mills Road in Stonecrest, and at Fire Station #21 at 1020 Crown Pointe Parkway in Dunwoody. AMR has provided 911 ambulance service for the county since June 2013. Its contract is set to end on Dec. 31. It is contracting a third-party ambulance service within 30 days to provide the additional resources. DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond said the lives M. Thurmond and safety of DeKalb citizens is the number one priority. “The agreement with AMR resulted from public feedback and numerous meetings and discussions during the past year with the county,” he said. The agreement comes in the wake of AMR’s poor response time and failure to

American Medical Response, which has provided 911 ambulance service for DeKalb County since June 2013, has been dogged by complaints of poor response times and failure to meet its contractual standards.

minutes, 59 seconds. meet its contractual stanTo provide a high level dards. of service, DeKalb Fire The failures have cost Chief Darnell Fullum said the company more than that the county and AMR $1.5 million in fines from need to have the same DeKalb County. mindset. In March, Dunwoody “It is important to undeclared an “EMS Crisis” derstand the service level and City Council memTerry Nall Darnell Fullum we require of ourselves ber Terry Nall pointed out that AMR’s response time of almost 15 and our transport provider,” Fullum said. Per the agreement, American Medical minutes is below the national standard of 8 Response also will: n Ensure that the hourly crew positions are fully staffed by investing in travel expenses, additional overtime costs, shift differentials and bonus stipends to compensate paramedics and EMTs from across the region to work in the system. n Staff and deploy previously agreed upon Basic Life Support (BLS) units as a part of the Deployment Model to complement the Advance Life Support (ALS) units to increase

the available units and reduce the incidents of no ambulances available for incoming calls. n Augment the overall coverage by developing an agreement with a third-party ambulance service provider to deploy additional transport units in the system within 30 days. This will continue to be a strategy until a willing provider is found and an agreement is reached. n Review the current Posting and Deployment Plan using the most current data, and will provide a revised Posting and Deployment Plan for review in 10 business days. n Provide a daily report to DeKalb County that outlines the previous 24-hour operational period of performance. n Conduct continuous monitoring of its services and participate in monthly review meetings with DeKalb County Public Safety leadership. DeKalb is currently looking for a new EMS transport service provider.

Helping seniors live healthier lives Seniors can get the 101 on ensuring a great quality of life in their golden years at “Seniors First!: Becoming a Healthier You” on June 12 at the Redan-Trotti Library. During the three-hour workshop, a DeKalb County UGA Extension office representative will offer tips on living a healthy

and productive life through eating right and staying active. It starts at 10:30 a.m. Funding is provided by the Friends of the Redan-Trotti Library. The library is at 1569 Wellborn Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 770482-3821.

Self-care, wellness at Decatur Library Sheryl Woods will teach basic wellness is open to the first 20 participants. Visit the branch to register. techniques on June 14 at Self-Care and WellThe library is at 215 Sycamore St. in ness at the Decatur Library. The noon to 2 p.m. workshop, which is Decatur. For more information, call 404funded by the Friends of the Decatur Library, 370-3070.

CrossRoadsNews

June 9, 2018

Wellness

The CDC says foods contaminated with salmonella usually look and smell normal.

Tips to avoid salmonella’s warm-weather surge in the summer These days, outbreaks of salmonella bacteria seem to make the news routinely. Often, it is linked to eggs and poultry, but spinach has also been affected and more recently, romaine lettuce. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that salmonella causes a million food-borne illnesses every year in the United States. It says salmonella is more common in the summer when warmer weather and unrefrigerated foods create ideal conditions for the bacteria to grow. In recent years, the food-borne illness -- sometimes called “food poisoning” -- has also been linked to contaminated cucumbers, pistachios, raw tuna, sprouts, and many other foods. It can also be contracted from beef, pork, fruits, and processed foods like nut butters, frozen pot pies, chicken nuggets, and stuffed chicken entrees. The CDC says foods contaminated with salmonella usually look and smell normal, which underscores why it is important to know how to prevent infection. Symptoms of infection usually appear six to 48 hours after eating a contaminated

Avoid eating raw eggs or eggs that have runny whites or yolks.

food, but can take much longer. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. In most cases, the CDC says, the illness lasts four to seven days and people recover without antibiotic treatment, but some people may have severe diarrhea and need to be hospitalized. Anyone can get a salmonella infection, but older adults, children younger than 5, and people with immune systems weakened from medical conditions like diabetes, cancer, liver

Nutrition on the menu at 2 libraries Library patrons can zero in on nutrition basics for successful weight management and becoming healthy vegetarians at two library branches in June. Participants at “Heal Thyself with Healthy Weight Management,” funded by the Friends of the Stonecrest Library, will learn to plan healthy meals, and exercise. The 11 a.m. to noon class takes place June 12 and 23. The library is at 3123 Klondike Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 770482-3828.

“Picture Yourself Healthy: Become a Healthy Vegetarian” takes place 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on June 16 and 23 at the NorthlakeBarbara Loar Library. The workshop, presented by the DeKalb Board of Health, will explore the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, sources of plantbased proteins, and daily physical activity. To register, visit tinyurl.com/leaddekalb or call 404-508-7847. The library is at 3772 LaVista Road in Tucker. For more information, call 404679-4408.

or kidney disease, or their treatment are at great risks. You should contact your doctor or healthcare provider if you have: n Diarrhea and a fever over 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit. n Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving. n Bloody stools. n Prolonged vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down. n Signs of dehydration, such as making very little urine, dry mouth and throat, and dizziness when standing up. To reduce your chance of contracting salmonella: n Refrigerate or freeze perishables (foods likely to spoil or go bad quickly), prepared foods, and leftovers within two hours. Chill them within an hour if the temperature is 90 degrees or hotter. n Avoid eating raw eggs or eggs that have runny whites or yolks. To keep you and your family safe, follow these clean, separate, cook and chill guidelines:

Clean n Wash hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling uncooked eggs, or raw meat, poultry, and seafood and their juices. n Wash utensils, cutting boards, dishes,

and countertops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to prepare the next item. n Don’t wash raw poultry, meat, and eggs before cooking. Germs can spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. n Sanitize food contact surfaces with a freshly made solution of one tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach in one gallon of water.

Separate n Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate from other foods in your grocery cart and in your refrigerator. Keep eggs in the original carton and store them in the main part of the refrigerator, not in the door. n Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood separate from ready-to-eat foods such as salads and deli meat. n Use separate cutting boards and plates for produce and for raw meat and eggs. n Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat or eggs. Chill n Keep your refrigerator at 40 degrees or colder. n Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods, and leftovers within 2 hours (or 1 hour if the temperature is 90 degrees or hotter). Visit www.cdc.gov/features/salmonellafood/ for more information.

Color therapy to relax and de-stress Fifteen participants can learn to “Relax It comes with free coloring sheets, coland De-Stress with Color Therapy” on June ored pencils and markers. 13 at the Scott Candler Library. The library is at 1917 Candler Road in The three-hour class, funded by the Decatur. Friends of the Scott Candler Library, starts For more information, call 404-286at 1 p.m. 6986.

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Scene

June 9, 2018

“The hope is people will come away from this event knowing that not every dad is a deadbeat.”

Summer Kids Fest Noted poet to give her take on Feelin’ Father’s Day Green says the poem ate an environment where families - fathers offering Friday fun By Bryce Ethridge celebrates fathers who in particular - can come and hear encouragSons can get a jump on showing their take care of their families, ing things.” through Aug. 10 dads some love at “Feelin’ Father’s Day” and the event will show Teresa Totten, the library’s Adult ProEvery Friday this summer, kids can find fun activities at Summer Kids Fest at Exchange Park Recreation Center in Decatur. The free event, an initiative of the DeKalb Police South Precinct and a number of community organizations, kicked off June 8 to provide structured activities for children during the summer break from school. The weekly night of games, sports and activities takes place Fridays through Aug. 10. Each week, games, basketball, fishing and other activities are on tap from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Summer Kids Fest is open to youth, ages 10-17. It provides young people a safe place to interact with each other and with DeKalb County Police officers. Exchange Park is at 2771 Columbia Drive.

on June 11 at the Salem-Panola Library in Lithonia. The tribute to fathers will feature the poetry of award-winning poet and essayist Gwen Russell Green and an open mic segment starting at 6 p.m. The event, named for Green’s poem “Feelin’ Father’s Day,” explores the portrayal of fathers from a personal and media perspective. Father’s Day is June 17.

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

Civil Action Case Number: 18FM4609-4 Christina Leslie PLAINTIFF VS Treveilieus S. Leslie, Sr. DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO : Treveilieus S. Leslie, Sr.

gramming and Services coordinator, believes Green’s program will shed new light on fathers in the community. “The hope is people will come away from this event knowing that not every dad - particularly in the African American community - is a deadbeat,” Totten said. The library is at 5137 Salem Road. For more information, call 770-987-6900.

British author to read his latest tome at Decatur Library By Bryce Ethridge

Moore – in Paris during the first half of the 20th century. The story spans art and British fiction writer literature, war and imprisonment, madness Rupert Thomson will be and devotion. discussing his new book, Thomson’s talk comes during LGBT “Never Anyone But You,” Pride Month, which is celebrated nationally at the Decatur Library on in June to commemorate the Stonewall riots June 14. of June 1969. The tome, released in Joe Davich, Georgia Center for the Book June in the U.S. and the Rupert Thomson executive director, said the talk is a great fit U.K., explores the clandestine love affair for the June Festival of Writers series. between two French women – artists and “It seemed like the right moment for this gender icons Claude Cahun and Marcel book,” he said. “It’s a great piece of fiction.”

Legal Notices 05/19, 05/26, 06/02, 06/09

black fathers - who are often portrayed negatively - that they are appreciated. It’s her hope that G. Russell Green families will bring their fathers to the event. “It’s not what we read and it’s not what we see in the media,” she said. “I want to cre-

4776 White Oak Path Stone Mountain, GA 30083 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated May 02, 2018. You are hereby notified that Apr. 27, 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 Christina Leslie, 2109 Summerwood Dr., Clarkston, GA 30021. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of May 02, 2018. Witness the Honorable Gail C. Flake, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 7th day of May, 2018 06/09, 06/16, 06/23, 06/30

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

Civil Action Case Number: 18FM1844-1 Aleeda M. Haynes-Kelly PLAINTIFF VS Robert C. Kelly DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Robert C. Kelly 6465 Crestline Terrace Norcross, GA 30092 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated May 25, 2018. You are hereby notified that Feb. 2, 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 Aleeda M. Haynes-Kelly, 264 Habitat Circle, Decatur, GA 30034. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of May 29, 2018. Witness the Honorable Courtney L. Johnson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 29th day of May, 2018 06/09, 06/16, 06/23, 06/30

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court

The discussion takes place 7:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thomson, who hails from East Sussex, England, began his writing career as a copywriter in 1978. He became a full-time author in 1982, penning 10 critically acclaimed books before his latest. Thomson’s memoir “This Party’s Got to Stop” won the Writer’s Guild Nonfiction Book of the Year in 2010. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur. For more information, call 404-370-3070.

Britany Jones PLAINTIFF VS Ned Voungh Jones, III DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Ned Voungh Jones, III By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated May 24, 2018. You are hereby notified that Aug. 01, 2017, 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 Britany Jones, 2505 Shiloh Dr., Decatur, GA 30034. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of May 24, 2018. Witness the Honorable Ash F. Jackson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. 06/09, 06/16, 06/23, 06/30

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court

of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM5998-2

of DeKalb County

State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 18FM1572 Carlene Rose Cunningham PLAINTIFF VS Gerald Leonard Cunningham DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Gerald Leonard Cunningham Alexandria P.O. St. Ann Jamaica Wis By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated 4th day of Jun., 2018. You are hereby notified that the 25th day of Jan., 2018, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Carlene Rose Cunningham-Pro Se. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of first date of publication. Witness the Honorable Courtney L. Johnson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 5th day of Jun., 2018

DeKalb County Sheriff Office

Jeffrey L. Mann, Sheriff • 4415 Memorial Drive • Decatur, GA 30032

Sex Offender

Achaz Mowatt 2087 Raintree Pl Lithonia Ga 30058 Charge of Sexual Exploitation of Children Convicted 12 01 2015

Brandon Smart 285 Meadowood Pl Lithonia Ga 30038 Charge of Criminal Attempt to Commit Rape Convicted 04 23 2008

Jason Turner Gray 708 Greenhedge Dr Stone Mountain Ga 30088 Charge of Cruelty to Children 1st Degree Convicted 03 22 2018

Johnny Robinson 3425 Aylesbury Loop Decatur Ga 30034 Charge of Sodomy 1st Degree Convicted 10 06 1997

Michael Riley 2912 Rambling Way Lithonia Ga 30058 Charge of Lewd or Lascivious Battery on Child 12 to 15 Years of Age Convicted 05 13 2004

Sex Offender

Michael Spence 7419 Bayside Trl Stone Mountain Ga 30087 Charge of Rape Convicted 08 03 2009

Reginald Gibson 2147 Cherokee Valley Cir Lithonia Ga 30058 Charge of Statutory Rape Convicted 05 22 2014

Roy Cogswell 8357 Norris Lake Rd Snellville Ga 30039 Charge of Attempted Sodomy 3rd Degree Convicted 10 28 2003

Senario Davis 4160 Hanes Dr Decatur Ga 30035 Charge of Sexual Abuse 2 Convicted 04 19 2012

The DeKalb Sex Offenders List is published by the DeKalb County Sheriff Office. For more information call the Sex Offender Unit at 404-298-8130.

Willie Polion 3536 Homewood Trl Ellenwood Ga 30294 Charge of Statutory Rape Convicted 01 20 1999

CrossRoadsNews

June 9, 2018

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MARKETPLACE RATES Place your MarketPlace line ad here – up to 20 words for $25. Additional words are $3 per block of five words (maximum 45 words). Boxed Ads (with up to 3 lines bold headline): $35 plus cost of the classified ad. Send ad copy with check or credit card information and contact phone number (if different from ad) to MarketPlace, CrossRoadsNews, 2346 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032, or e-mail to marketplace@crossroadsnews.com. Our deadlines are at noon on the Friday one week prior to publication, unless otherwise noted.

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CrossRoadsNews

June 9, 2018