Brookhaven Reporter www.ReporterNewspapers.net
Inside
Head for the Hills
Fast, then feast Muslims celebrate Ramadan FAITH 6
Knee high Tall, weedy lawns bring fines
JULY 10— JULY 23, 2015 • VOL. 8 — NO. 14
PUBLIC SAFETY 26
The world was watching
PAGES 10-17
City Council: ‘We have nothing to hide’ BY JOE EARLE
joeearle@reporternewspapers.net
ISADORA PENNINGTON
World Cup fans, from left, Gina Webber, Kiley Parrish, Leah Eller and Madalyn Dewling celebrate the U.S. women’s win over Japan during the Soccerfest II event at Brookhaven Park on July 5. Revelers were treated to an assortment of activities, including kids’ events, competitions and a big screen to watch the match. See additional photos on page 5.
Saying they wanted to avoid the appearance of a City Hall cover up, members of Brookhaven City Council have voted to release several private documents related to internal discussions about the actions of city officials. “This is our action to show we have nothing to hide,” Councilman Bates Mattison said. “I hope it gives the citizens of Brookhaven some peace ... [and] that this matter can be put to bed once and for all.” The city on July 8 released minutes of council discussions conducted in closed meetings on May 26, June 9 and June 16, and an email between former City Attorney Tom Kurrie to Councilman John Park and copied to other members of the council. New City Attorney Christopher Balch recommended that the executive session minutes not be released, but said lawyers he had surveyed were divided on whether the release was proper. “There is no firm, clear answer to this question,” he said. “We are taking this issue and making it far bigger than it really is,” Mattison said. “Let’s put this information out there to the public and move on.” Kurrie resigned during the June 16 meeting and the documents released July 8 include a copy of his handwritten letter of resignation. Kurrie’s resignation was announced at the end of the June 16 council meeting. At the time, Mayor Rebecca Chase Williams said, “It SEE CITY, PAGE 4
Fantasy warriors battle at Blackburn Park BY JOHN RUCH On Sunday afternoons, Brookhaven’s Blackburn Park magically transforms into a fantasy battlefield straight out of “The Lord of the Rings” or “Game of Thrones.” Amid the Frisbee-tossers and dog-walkers in the park, armored knights cross swords, swashbucklers fence with foes, and Japanese anime heroes battle gladiators for ownership of magic shields. These fantasy warriors come from two separate groups: the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), which meets at noon, and Dagorhir Battle Games, which gathers at 3 p.m. Members of the society lean toward historical re-enactment, its members clad in metal armor and able to
sing medieval church choral music on cue. Participants in Dagorhir engage in a more freewheeling sport, something like paintball with foam swords. But both groups share a love of full-contact fantasy combat and real camaraderie. And both have used Blackburn for years due to its easy access for metro Atlanta members and its large population of locals who are welcome to watch and even join in. The heroes and heroines of this alternative universe recently gathered at places where the park becomes the SCA’s Barony of South Downs and Dagorhir’s Realm of High Spires. SEE THE FANTASY, PAGE 25
JOHN RUCH
On Sundays, Blackburn Park transforms into a battleground complete with foam swords and metal armor.