VOLUME 25, NUMBER 36
DECEMBER 20, 2019
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Cochran-Johnson pushes to halt saturation of dollar stores DeKalb in national spotlight
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eKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is speaking out about the growing prevalence of dollar stores and the negative impact they are having on communities from a health standpoint and on local grocers locally and nationally. DeKalb County Commissioner Cochran-Johnson joined Lorraine Cochran-Johnson a national conversation on the subject during the Dec. 8 CBS “Sunday Morning” interview with Special Contributor Allison Aubrey. DeKalb County and Moville, Iowa were featured in the segment, along with business owners and case studies from across the United States. The issue is one that prompted DeKalb’s Board of Commissioners (BOC) to approve a 45-day moratorium on dollar stores this week. The DeKalb BOC is not alone. In November, the City of Stonecrest approved a ban on future smallbox stores offering items that costs less than $5 after residents complained about the prevalence of the stores, and expressed a desire for better quality retail, restaurants and grocery stores. In neighboring Rockdale County, BOC Chairman Oz Nesbitt announced the temporary shutdown in October of the Family Dollar store at 2460 Salem Road, Conyers after the store failed to address repeated violations cited by the county’s code
DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox
Joshua Bryant
PSC APPROVES RATE HIKES Power bills going up in 2020
that not only enhance the customer experience, but the safety and reliability of our system,” said Bryan Batson, president of Atlanta Gas Light. “We are mindful of the impact any increase can have on customers with low or fixed incomes. Fortunately, thanks to today’s lower natural gas prices, consumers are still paying on average $250 less on their total natural gas bill than even 10 years ago.” The PSC last filed for a rate increase in 2010 when the PSC approved a $26.5 million increase, nearly 10% increase in residential rates, officials said. Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, said she worked with the the PSC to make sure an additional $1 million a year would
Tiffany Swanson
Two more suspects arrested in assault, carjacking of 74-year-old woman
SEE STORES page 7
Customers will see an increase in their Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) and Georgia Power bills beginning in January 2020. The typical AGL residential customer’s bill will go up by about $2.54 per month, about a 4 percent increase. The Georgia Power bill will go up by about $6 a month, which also represents about 4 percent increase. The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) approved the Georgia Power increase on Dec. 17. The $1.77 billion increase, which will fund improved infrastructure, will be phased in over a three-year period, officials said. Officials said AGL’s $65 million rate hike, approved on Dec. 19, would be used to fund two years of system improvements and other compliance initiatives, as well as to boost faster responses to leak complaints, and other customer services including automatic reminders of appointments and shorter window waits for scheduled AGL visits. The adjustment will be reflected in the Atlanta Gas Light Pass-Through or Base Charge on customers’ bills. “These rate adjustments allow us to continue making investments
“... We will pull out all of our resources to make sure you are taken into custody.”
be provided for energy assistance to low-income families. Additionally, the PSC will initiate a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 2020 to develop a long-range planning process similar to that which exists in the electric industry. The new planning process will integrate the current Capacity Supply Plan process with a new multi-year infrastructure plan that will include capital projects and estimated costs over a 10-year planning horizon. The new planning process, which will take place every three years, will be useful for the company and regulators in ratemaking proceedings, as the vast majority of capital spending will have already been examined and acted upon.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested all three suspects wanted in connection with the Dec. 5 beating and carjacking of Aaron Johnson 74-year-old Rosa Smith. Joshua Bryant, 20, of Atlanta, and Tiffany Swanson, 19, of Statesboro— were arrested on Dec. 19 and booked into the DeKalb County Jail. The first suspect, Aaron Johnson, 17, of Atlanta surrendered to police and has been in custody at the DeKalb County Jail since Dec. 11 on robbery and elder abuse charges. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, working with U.S. Marshals and Atlanta Police Department arrested Bryant and Swanson on Cedar Avenue in Atlanta. DeKalb County’s new sheriff, Melody Maddox, issued a warning to others who have crime on their minds: “If you think that you are going to intimidate the citizens of DeKalb County, especially our most vulnerable ones, which is our youth and our seniors, we will pull out all of our resources to make sure you are taken into custody,” Maddox said during a news conference where the arrests were announced after the arrests. According to authorities, Smith was trying to vacuum her Nissan Rogue outside a gas station on Gresham Road in Decatur when the violent carjacking took place. Smith, a retired attorney, was taken to the hospital after being beaten. Authorities said although she suffered no broken bones, she was left with gashes and bruises on her forehead, mouth and cheeks. She also complained of pain in her hips from the attack. The suspects drove off in Smith’s car with her terrier mix, Daphne, still
SEE SUSPECTS page 6
PAGE 2 • DECEMBER 20, 2019 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
Suspect captured after fatal shooting at Conyers’ Dart manufacturing plant The man who shot an employee at the Dart Container manufacturing plant in Conyers is now in custody at Rockdale County Jail. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Cameron Golden of Arkansas, is being held on charges of murder and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime. Authorities still have not given a motive for the shooting. The shooting happened on Friday, Dec. 13. The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office responded to a “shots fired” call at 6:58 a.m. at the Dart manufacturing plant, located at 1455 GA-138. Upon arrival, deputies found one male with a gunshot wound and learned UP TO that a person of interest had fled the scene. The victim, Taurus Andrews, was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. Several hours after the shooting, the suspect was taken into custody without in Birmingham, Alabama. Golden was extradited back to Georgia.
$2,000 REWARD FOR TIPS LEADING TO THE ARREST OF THE SUSPECT(S) BELOW
CASE NUMBER:
Conyers Police seek Home 19-117286 Depot shoplifter Incident Location: 1330 Dogwood The Conyers Police Department is Drive, Home Depot seeking the public’s help in locating the male suspect pictured. On Nov. 25, the suspect Suspect Description: shoplifted multiple tool kits from Home Depot,Hispanic 1330 Dogwood Drive, Conyers. He Male wearwas seen leaving the scene inside of a red ing blue jeans, a Ford Expedition on the passenger side of the brown sweater, and a vehicle. black undershirt. Tipsters will remain anonymous and are askedVehicle to contact Crime Stoppers with any Description: information: 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.CrimeStoppersAtlanta.org. Gold Chevrolet Tahoe
On November 25, 2019, the male pictured above shoplifted multiple tool kits from H 1330 Dogwood Drive, Conyers, GA. The male was seen leaving the scene inside of a r dition on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Any information regarding these persons of interest may result in a cash rewa $2,000.00. Tipsters will remain anonymous and are asked to contact Crime Stoppers with any information: Call: 404.577.TIPS (8477) Click: www.CrimeStoppersAtlanta.org
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DECEMBER 20, 2019 • PAGE 3
Cochran-Johnson sets Feb. 5 town hall: new voting machines, panel to provide critical updates
PUBLISHER Glenn L. Morgan
gmorgan1@ocgnews.com
EDITOR Valerie J. Morgan
editor@ocgnews.com
ADVERTISING MANAGER Richard S. Hill
richardhill@ocgnews.com
STAFF WRITER Mackenzie Morgan
mackenzie@ocgnews.com
On Common Ground News is published weekly by On Common Ground, Inc. The newspaper serves DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale and Henry counties. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher or the newspaper’s advertisers. No portion of this newspaper may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.
The state of Georgia is replacing all voting machines by the March 24 presidential primary with a new voting system. In the wake of this change, DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson wants to ensure all DeKalb residents experience how to use the new voting machine and have the opportunity to check their voting status. Cochran-Johnson is hosting a town hall meeting for the public on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 6 to 8 p.m., at Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. Citizens will have a chance to try out the machines ahead of the town hall, from 4 to 6 p.m., and receive other pertinent information concerning the 2020 voting process. The Georgia Secretary of State this week removed 313,000 registered voters it
DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson
classified as "inactive" from the voting rolls after failing to confirm or update their information within 30 days of being notified. Fair Fight Action is challenging the removals of about 120,000 voters who were removed due to inactivity since the 2012 presidential elections, saying that citizens have the right, under the First Amendment, to vote or not. Cochran-Johnson said the town hall will give
residents access to their voting status, the ability to register to vote, and the opportunity to speak with state and local election officials to answer questions pertinent to voting in the approaching primaries. “Understanding the voter purge, I want to get an early start on checking the voter status of DeKalb residents,” Cochran-Johnson said. “…2020 will be a critical year on the local, state, and national level. Many Americans want change and need to know their voice and their vote will be heard. As an elected official, I am here to work with our local voting office to ensure we have the most efficient practices and procedures in place and all poll workers are fully trained and understand voting procedures.” Town hall panel
members will include Ted Koval, Georgia Secretary of State Office; Samuel Tillman and Anthony Lewis, DeKalb Board of Registrations and Elections; Leona Perry, of the DeKalb Democrats; Thomas Bowden, Esq., DeKalb Republicans; and Erica Hamilton, director of the DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections. Panel members and voting officials will be on hand to discuss voting practices, absentee voting procedures, ballot processing times, provisional ballots, how to encourage voter participation and standard voting procedures. “We look forward to the opportunity to engage DeKalb’s voting electorate and share information and best practices to ensure all DeKalb residents are confident as we approach 2020,” Hamilton said.
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Tammy L. Grimes takes helm as Stonecrest District 5 Councilmember Tammy L. Grimes took the oath of office on Dec.17, becoming the newest District 5 Councilmember for the city of Stonecrest. Grimes’ inauguration marked another chapter for the city, which became DeKalb County’s largest municipality with more than 50,000 residents when it was incorporated in 2017. Attorney Noreen Banks-Ware, a long-time friend of Grimes, administered the oath of office. Grimes was flanked by her husband, Reginald; son, Reginald II; and two daughters, Taylor and Tylar as they all stood before a packed crowd at City Hall. Grimes’ father and mother, Willie and Alean Tayton, and Grimes’ sister, Dr. Sheila Tayton, her only sibling, were among several relatives who attended the 10 a.m. ceremony.
SEE GRIMES page 7
Hillcrest Church of Christ
1939 Snapfinger Rd, Decatur, Ga 30035 | hillcrestcoc.net WORSHIP SERVICE TIMES: Sunday Mornings 10am to 12pm Sunday Evenings 5pm to 6pm
BIBLE CLASSES: Sunday Mornings 9am to 9:45am Wednesday Nights 7pm to 8pm Thursday mornings 10 am to 11am
“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Hillcrest Church of Christ”.
Photos by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
PAGE 4 • DECEMBER 20, 2019 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
DeKalb commissioners offer “easy fix” for stalled Ethics Board
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Students from Freedom Middle School being recognized for collecting over 500 toiletries for lowincome students and families at a special ceremony Dec. 12.
A local Waffle House sponsored and served the students a hot breakfast for their commitment to serving the community.
DeKalb students collect over 500 toiletries for kids, families in need By Mackenzie N. Morgan OCG Staff Writer While most kids are making wish lists during this time of year, a group of students from Freedom Middle School took time to help others in need this holiday season. About 30 students from the school’s Future Business Leaders of America and Robotics Clubs collected more than 500 toiletries and personal hygiene items for those experiencing hardship. The items will be distributed to students at Allgood Elementary as well as an Atlanta Newly elected Stonecrest District 5 homeless shelter. City Councilwoman Tammy Grimes attended the special event. The students were recognized at a special ceremony on Dec. 12 for their service by The Clean Cargo Project, a local nonprofit that collects and distributes personal care items for low-income elementary school students and families in need. Waffle House sponsored a hot breakfast for the students who each received a certificate. Guest speaker and real estate specialist Kimberley Dailey congratulated the students for being good stewards of their community and spoke about the importance of setting goals and land ownership. City of Stonecrest’s newly elected District 5 City Councilwoman Tammy Grimes also attended the event and praised the students for their commitment to serving others. Since its inception in 2018, the Clean Cargo Project has provided hygiene supplies to more than 2,500 elementary school students in DeKalb’s Title I schools which serve students from low-income families. The Clean Cargo project mobilizes community members to assist schoolchildren whose families may not be able to afford hygiene supplies on a regular basis while also giving students a dignified way to access hygiene products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, feminine hygiene products and other personal care items. Clean Cargo Project founder Johari Dozier said that students who lack basic hygiene essentials are at risk for bullying and low academic performance. “We want to give kids an equal opportunity to do their best in school. How you smell, whether you brushed your teeth or if your clothes are clean and neat affect one’s self-image,” said Dozier. “If you have a hard time getting food, you may not have funds for deodorant. We don’t want to see any kid getting picked on because that child’s family couldn’t afford a tube of toothpaste. We want kids to feel good about themselves and this gives those in a position to help the opportunity to give back. That is so important around this time of year,” said Dozier.
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eKalb County’s Board of Commissioners introduced a resolution on Dec. 17 urging the DeKalb Delegation to adopt the same Ethics Code previously approved by voters with one substantive change to the appointment process. The measure was introduced by Super District 6 Commissioner Kathie Gannon, District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw and Super District 7 Commissioner Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. Kathie Gannon “We call this Model Ethics Code II,” said Gannon. “It’s almost identical to the current code with voter’s 92 percent approval of House Bill 597, DeKalb Ethics Board Reform Bill, passed in 2015. DeKalb voters have spoken loudly and clearly. They want a strong ethics code.” Who serves on the Board of Ethics and who appoints the Board of Ethics is critically important. The proposed code calls for the same group of community Commissioner organizations to recommend citizens to serve on the Steve Bradshaw Board of Ethics. However, the Georgia Supreme Court has ruled that only elected officials can make the appointments. Therefore, the appointments must be made by elected officials. “We call on the DeKalb Delegation to simply change the appointment process and make no other substantive changes. This is an easy fix that can be accomplished within a few days of the upcoming session,” said Cochran-Johnson. The ethics code currently calls for appointments by Commissioner the Chief Judge of Superior Court, the Chief Judge Lorraine Cochranof Probate Court, and the DeKalb Delegation. The Johnson one substantive change the resolution calls for would add appointments by the Chief Judge of State Court, the Chief Judge of Magistrate Court, the DeKalb Tax Commissioner, and another appointment by the DeKalb Delegation. “We’ve gone long enough without a functioning Board of Ethics. I look forward to working on passage of this ethics code with the DeKalb Delegation and citizen organizations across DeKalb County,” said Bradshaw.
Justice for Veterans would like to thank
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson Congressman Hank Johnson Georgia National Cemetery The Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center On Common Ground News And the Community at Large for making possible the Claims and Compensation Assistance Fair for military veterans a Success We will host the next event in April and November 2020 Happy Holidays To All Veterans,
Retired Lt. Col. Amos King
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DECEMBER 20, 2019 • PAGE 5
Inauguration of Melody M. Maddox, DeKalb County Georgia’s 50th Sheriff Melody M. Maddox was sworn in as DeKalb County’s 50th Sheriff, the first woman to hold the office, on Dec. 16 at St. Philip A.M.E. Church in Decatur. Three African-American women administered the oaths: Judge Penny Brown Reynolds administered
the Loyalty Oath; DeKalb County Superior Couit Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson administered the Oath of Office and DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Asha Jackson administered the Constitutional Oath. The Rev. William D. Whatley,
senior pastor of Saint Philip A.M.E. Church, welcomed guests, family and friends to the ceremony. Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, 6th Episcopal District A.M.E. Church, performed the invocation. Indira K. Woodward paid a special tribute to her mother, Sheriff
Maddox. Brayden, Leilani and Nasir, Maddox’s grandchildren, and her God-grandson Jibril, led the Pledge of Allegiance. To view the video of the swearing-in ceremony, visit ocgnews.com.
South DeKalb community celebrates completion of phase 2 Glenwood Road sidewalks DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, along with many committed residents, celebrated the completion of the second phase of the Glenwood Road sidewalk project on Dec. 2. Officials and members of the community held a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the project, which began in 2007, and includes a third phase. “This is a milestone. This has been a long time coming,” said Johnson. Ann Brown, who has been a longtime advocate and champion in South DeKalb, said she was proud to be a part of the milestone. Brown was involved in lobbying for Glenwood
Road sidewalks after a young cousin was killed on the road. “I am happy to see this day come, where we are able to walk up and down Glenwood and not be concerned about our
safety due to no sidewalks,” Brown said. “Thank you, Commissioner Johnson, for helping lead us to victory today.” Phase 2 of the Glenwood Road project adds approximately 2 miles of
DeKalb County Seeks Audit Oversight Committee Members DeKalb County Government is seeking interested county residents to
serve as a volunteer on a 5-member Audit Oversight Committee as required
by House Bill 599 of the Georgia General Assembly.
The role of the Audit Oversight Committee is to function independently in conducting performance and financial-related audits for all departments, offices, agencies and programs of the county. The objective is to ensure county programs are effectively achieving the purpose for which they were authorized and funded. Individuals must meet the following requirements: • Reside in DeKalb County • Possess expertise conducting performance audits • Have a minimum five years of experience and be certified in one of following: - Public accountant - Internal or performance auditor - Management accountant - Ten years other relevant professional experience Board terms vary from one to five years. Resumes and cover letters will be accepted through January 31, 2020, via email at AOCRecruiting@dekalbcountyga.gov.
sidewalk along both sides of Glenwood Road from east of Candler Road/SR 155 to Columbia Drive. Johnson said the added sidewalks improve pedestrian access and safety on Glenwood Road, from Candler Road to Columbia Drive. According to the Atlanta Regional Commission, Glenwood Road, with approximately 18,000 vehicles per day, is traditionally one of the top three corridors in DeKalb for pedestrian-related crashes and fatalities. Johnson said the first phase of the project—from I-20 to Candler Road—was completed in 2010 and included installed sidewalks and improved pedestrian
crossings. The total cost of the project for the first two phases is $11.6 million. The third phase will include improvements along Columbia Drive to Covington Highway. In addition, the Glenwood Road sidewalk project includes a pedestrian hybrid beacon to aid in crossing the street at Shoal Creek Parks. A pedestrian hybrid beacon is a pedestrian-activated crosswalk signal that alerts drivers to stop. “The wait is over, and this is how we do it in District 3. It doesn’t always happen overnight everything is a process, but we get it done!” Johnson said.
CITY OF STONECREST PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC HEARING: TUESDAY, JANUARY 7TH 2019 AT 6:00 P.M. STONECREST CITY HALL, 3120 STONECREST BLVD, SUITE 155 STONECREST, GA 30038 CITY OF STONECREST MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING: MONDAY, JANUARY 27TH 2019 AT 7:00 P.M. STONECREST CITY HALL, 3120 STONECREST BLVD, SUITE 155 STONECREST, GA 30038 The following petition(s)/amendment(s) within the City of Stonecrest is scheduled for Public Hearings as stated above.
LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:
SLUP-19-007 Dana Avist 3620 Klondike Road R-100 (Residential Med Lot) Zoning District Applicant is requesting a Special Land Use Permit to operate a personal care home up to four people.
LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:
RZ-19-009 / SLUP-19-008 Shiv Stone Inc. c/o Michael J. Lober 3310,3320 &3300 Turner Hill Road R-100 (Residential Med Lot) Zoning District Requesting to rezone subject properties from R-100 to MU-4 and Special Land Use permit for a Senior Living Facility and Convenience store with accessory fuel pumps and alcohol outlet.
PAGE 6 • DECEMBER 20, 2019
Rockdale’s Constitutional Corner
“Once Upon A Time At Christmas” Once Upon A Time At Christmas, there was an Elf on the Shelf at the Courthouse. He called himself Aluicious Lilliputian Fontroy or ALF for short. His only job was to solve problems and prevent problems at the Historic County Courthouse and to do it quietly in the background. He would mostly hide in the ceiling, the walls and subfloor of the old building and no one was the wiser. This Holiday Season he became particularly agitated. All the decorations and festivities had him feeling left out, forgotten By Ruth A. Wilson and even unappreciated. Clerk of Courts He decided to get in on the fun and create some opportunities to get noticed. Maybe earn some pats on the back from the Big Man, his boss. He started with little things like turning on all the lights at the courthouse at 2:00 a.m. When the cleaning crew arrived at 5:00 a.m., they thought it was mighty strange, but said nothing of it. Then one of the managers complained about the cleaning people leaving the lights on, which they quickly denied. That manager being a dutiful public servant ordered all staff to turn off all lights each night. Things were quiet the rest of the week. ALF got bored again and decided to do something a little more noticeable. He went through the building and busied all the phone lines so nobody could call in or out. Everybody got upset, complained and pointed fingers. Then overnight, ALF fixed the phones and promptly appeared on the shelf. Everybody exclaimed what good luck ALF had brought and he was the hero for about two days. Then they forgot about ALF again. His next bright idea was to gum up and shut down all the computers which caused chaos, complaints and confusion. ALF said to himself, “I got ‘em now!” He let the courthouse struggle for five or six days, then turned the computers back on and promptly appeared on the shelf again. Finally, the folk at the courthouse got wise and decided to keep ALF around all the time since he was such a good luck charm. They put ALF in a locked box on the shelf where they could enjoy his good tidings year round. And GUESS WHAT? It worked! Once ALF was locked up, all the problems went away. The Moral of the Story is this: If your ALF on the Shelf only appears after a problem, take a very good look at your ALF.
Georgia’s unemployment sets record low, jobs at all-time high
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eorgia’s unemployment rate hit the lowest percentage in history in November at 3.3%, while the total number of jobs in the state set a record high of 4.64 million, state officials reported on Dec. 19. The Georgia Department of Labor, which has been keeping records on employment data for 43 years, said the total number of jobs in Georgia also set a record high at 4.64 million and the number of employed Georgians achieved an historic high of 4.96 million. Gov. Brian P. Kemp praised Georgia’s strong economy, which added 6,500 jobs in November. Job openings typically are stronger this time of year with seasonal workers being hired for the holidays, economists say. Many of the jobs are in retail, warehouse and delivery sectors. "Thanks to strong, conservative leadership at the State Capitol, Georgia continues to grow and prosper," said Kemp. "Unemployment rates are at historic lows, workforce participation is at an all-time high, and job creators have Georgia on their minds.” Kemp credited small businesses and regional projects with the positive results. "To keep Georgia the best place to live, work, and raise a family, we must support our small businesses, recruit projects of regional significance to our rural communities, and dismantle criminal street gangs so our families are safe from harm,” Kemp said. “By working together, we can ensure that Georgia's best and brightest days are still to come."
Georgia’s Unemployment Rate Highest: 10.6% (Dec., 2010) Lowest: 3.3% (Nov., 2019) 2015: 5.6% 2016: 5.3% 2017: 4.3% 2018: 3.7% 2019: 3.3% Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
Judge Phinia Aten to host ‘Let’s Get Married’ New Year’s Day wedding Rockdale County Chief Magistrate Judge Phinia Aten will perform a mass wedding ceremony for couples who want to get married on New Year’s Day. Judge Aten is hosting the wedding ceremony at 2 p.m. in the Magistrate Courtroom, 948 Bank Street, Conyers. Couples must bring a valid marriage license and government-issued identification with them. Preregistration is required. There is no cost for the wedding ceremony and guests are welcome. “Rockdale’s reputation as a wonderful community for Phinia Aten families is widespread. The hundreds of free courthouse weddings that I’ve performed are an expression of my commitment to uplifting and supporting our families and community,” said Judge Aten. “I know that a lot of people make resolutions and new commitments on New Year’s Day. This time we are embarking on a new decade, which raises the occasion and embodies new beginnings. Marriage is truly a new chapter and we are here to support this commitment.” To register for the wedding, contact the Rockdale County Magistrate Court Clerk’s Office at 770-278-7800 or magct@rockdalecountyga.gov.
National Coalition of 100 Black Women Stone Mountain-Lithonia Chapter honors Judge Phinia Aten for leadership Rockdale County Chief Magistrate Judge Phinia Aten received the “Bold and Fearless Award in Public Policy and Leadership” on Dec. 15, during the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Stone Mountain-Lithonia (NCBWSML) Chapter’s 12th Annual Empowerment Awards Banquet. The banquet was held at the Marriott Northeast in Atlanta. Sherry King, chapter president, thanked Judge Aten for her outstanding leadership in engaging and empowering children and young adults, as well as improving judicial outcomes. Phinia Aten In accepting the award, Judge Aten said: “Everyone has a voice. You just have to find it then lift your voice. For me, disrupting and ending the school to prison pipeline is a great reason to be bold and fearless. Our community is on my mind every morning when I awaken and every evening before I go to sleep.” The National Coalition for the 100 Black Women’s Stone MountainLithonia Chapter is an advocacy organization dedicated to bringing voice to the issues that concern women of color and children.
Stonecrest Library to welcome new branch manager Michael Strong Michael Strong will serve as the new branch manager for DeKalb County’s Stonecrest Library branch. Strong, who has been with the DeKalb County Library system for more than 30 years, will succeed Lylah Lockridge. Strong, a Decatur native, has served as manager of the Covington branch, for the past two years. Acting manager, Amanda Lindsay, said Strong would begin his role as branch manager in the new Michael Strong year. “My passion is working with the community. I like turning strangers into neighbors and neighbors into communities. I want patrons to realize that this is their library and we are here to serve and help them,” said Strong. “We are super excited about Michael Strong joining us at Stonecrest. I think he is a great fit for the community and that his experience and knowledge will benefit us tremendously,” said Lindsay. The public is invited to welcome Strong at a reception hosted by The Friends of Stonecrest Library on Monday, Jan. 6, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free to attend and registration is encouraged. To register, go online to Friends of Stonecrest Library invite@eventbrite.com.
SUSPECT continued from page 1 inside, police said. The dog was later found wandering in a southwest Atlanta road and returned to Smith’s family. The widely-publicized attack prompted authorities to seek public assistance and police learned that one of the suspects(Swanson) was a female. Bryant and Swanson were both charged with aggravated battery, robbery by force and elder abuse. Bryant and Swanson were taken into custody without incident and transported to the DeKalb County Jail.
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DECEMBER 20, 2019 • PAGE 7
Photos by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
GRIMES continued from page 3 Mayor Jason Lary, Councilmembers George Turner, Rob Turner and Jimmy Clanton were among the elected officials in attendance, as well as former State Rep. Dee Dawkins- Haigler. Several members of Delta Sigma Theta also came out to support Grimes, who is a member of the sorority. The Rev. Eric Robertson, who serves under Pastor Marlin D. Harris at New Life Church in Decatur where Grimes is a member, performed the invocation. Raquel Jones and her daughter, Victoria Jones, sang the national anthem. Grimes fought back tears during the swearingin ceremony. Her children also teared up as they watched their mother, a DeKalb County educator, make history for their family. After the ceremony, Grimes shared with the audience during her inauguration speech what it meant to follow in the footsteps of other elected officials in her family. “It’s in my DNA,” Grimes said,
acknowledging an uncle who was the first black elected to the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners and a cousin who ran for political office in Henry County. Grimes said God ordained her to run for the District 5 seat. Grimes’ first ran for the seat in 2017, receiving 45.6 percent of the votes in a runoff with Diane Adoma, who won the election with 54.4 percent. In November 2019, Adoma gave up the seat and ran unsuccessfully for mayor. Grimes ran for Adoma’s seat in a six-way race and ended up in a runoff, defeating Dave Marcus, a retired strategic planner and financial analyst, on Dec. 3. Grimes said her victory would not have been possible without the support of family and others. She devoted much of her inauguration speech thanking supporters, telling the audience how she valued relationships. She said she was overwhelmed with joy by relatives and friends who came from near and far, some of them driving from Valdosta, her hometown, to witness
the inauguration. “Relationships matter. I can say personally that 99.9 percent of you out there—I have a personal relationship with you and that means a lot,” she told the audience. “To see you here this morning on a rainy morning, it means a lot for you to witness what God has called me to do…,” Grimes said. Following her speech, Mayor Lary told Grimes and the audience that he was proud to have her aboard the City Council, acknowledging that relationships also matter and that he and Grimes share the same alma mater, the historic Clark Atlanta University. Grimes said she is looking forward to serving. The City Council will hold its first meeting of the New Year on Jan. 13. The council’s work session will begin at 6 p.m. and the City Council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Stonecrest City Hall. To see the photo gallery and video of Tammy L. Grimes’ inauguration, visit www.ocgnews. com.
Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful to host “Bring One for the Chipper” program Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful (KCRB) and the Conyers Home Depot will join to host the “Bring One for the Chipper” program in Rockdale at the Home Depot, 1330 Dogwood Drive, Conyers on Saturday, Jan. 4, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Chipper program offers citizens the opportunity to dispose their cut trees at a central location in the community, while recycling the
trees for reuse for a good cause. Across the state, thousands of volunteers in hundreds of Georgia’s communities come together for the Chipper event. Since its inception in 1991, more than 27 years ago, the program has collected more than 6 million trees for beneficial reuse. The mulch from these trees has been used for playgrounds, local government beautification
DeKalb Sheriff’s employees donate holiday gifts to deserving kids
T
he DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office’s 14th Adopt-A-Family program held Dec. 19 was an exciting occasion for kids from Bethany Foster Care and DeKalb County Department of Family and Children’s Services who will now be able to celebrate the holiday with loads of gifts. Earlier this season, the Sheriff’s Office held its annual Chili Cookoff, where guests tasted and judged each other’s culinary skills. Proceeds and individual donations paid for bikes, electronics, clothes and toys for 22 deserving children from DeKalb who live with grandparents or foster parents.
projects and individual yards. For more information on the tree recycling program or other community recycling projects, contact Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful, at 770-278-7052 or by email at kcrb@rockdalecountyga.gov.
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DeKalb Sheriff Melody Maddox joins Chief Deputy Randy Akies and Chaplain Curtis Crocker to distribute toys at the agency’s 14th Annual Adopt-A-Family Holiday Party. (Photo by DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office)
PAGE 8 • DECEMBER 20, 2019
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