crossroadsnews, may 7, 2011

www.crossroadsnews.comMay 7, 2011Copyright © 2011 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COVER PAGEShakur trial revisitedSCENE

The life story of Tupac’s mother will be on stage starting May 13 when “Afeni Shakur: In Her Defense – A Short Play & Gallery Exhibit” opens. 10

More than 400 veterans and members of the armed services got lots of help at Congressman Hank John-son’s Vet Expo last week. 3

Assistance for veteransCOMMUNITY

Students at Omnitech Institute on Covington Highway are preparing them-selves for careers such as medical assistants and information tech-nology. 6

Hands-on trainingFINANCE

Volume 17, Number 1

Good Times aT sTonecresT carnival

DeKalb standouts drafted for NFL teams

Jennifer ffrench Parker / crossroadsnews

Youngsters and the young at heart can enjoy carnival rides, attractions, food and games on the last weekend of the Spring Fair at Stonecrest in Lithonia. Operating hours are 11 a.m. to midnight on May 7 and noon to midnight May 8. For more information, visit www.mallatstonecrest.com.

DeKalb’s credit rating facing more downgrades

curtis Parker / crossroadsnewscurtis Parker / crossroadsnewsJennifer ffrench Parker / crossroad- Please see CREDIT, page 2

By Carla Parker

DeKalb County is facing another downgrade in its credit rating in the near future if it doesn’t put its financial house in order.

Moody’s Investors Service, which rates the creditworthiness of counties and municipalities, said this week that it has placed the county under review for pos-sible downgrade of its Aa3 rating.

The May 3 warning comes because of the county’s $415 million of outstanding general obligation, unlimited tax-backed and parity debt issued through various public authorities, and its A1 rating on $18.9 million of appropriation-backed debt.

The New York-based company said that the review was triggered by the county’s strained liquidity position and concerns over its ability to achieve struc-tural improvement this fiscal year and in future years. It also credits the impact of “a larger-than-expected tax base decline on county operations.”

The day before Moody’s released the notice, CEO Burrell Ellis said at a press briefing that the county will experience a $25 million shortfall in its budget because of declining property values. He said the decline in assessed property values will be closer to 10 per-cent, and not the 4 percent on which the county’s 2011 budget is based.

The DeKalb Board of Commission-ers approved a $530 million budget with $33 million in cuts and no property tax increase on Feb. 22. Ellis had proposed a $563.3 million budget with a 2.32 millage rate increase.

In the wake of the board’s approval, Standard & Poor’s, citing the county’s “deteriorating finances,” downgraded the county’s rating to BBB from AA and sub-sequently withdrew the rating.

Ellis said that increasing costs and de-creasing revenues have created a cash flow problem for the county.

“This can be corrected, if we take the appropriate, swift action,” he said. “If we do that, I believe both agencies will restore our credit rating.”

Moody’s review will focus on the coun-ty’s efforts to restore structural stability, including the possible adoption of a new

Burrell Ellis

By Carla Parker

Three former DeKalb Schools football players, who excelled dur-ing their high school and college careers, saw their NFL dreams come true last weekend when they were drafted by two teams.

Da’Norris Searcy, a former Towers Titans running back and de-fensive back, and Kelvin Sheppard, a former Stephenson Jaguars linebacker, were drafted by the Buffalo Bills.

Dwayne Harris, a former Tucker Tigers wide receiver, was the Dallas Cowboys’ No. 176 pick during the 2011 NFL Draft that took

place April 28-30 in New York.Searcy is the first Towers player ever

drafted by the NFL. Sheppard will join four Stephenson alums who are already in the NFL.

Sheppard, who graduated from Stephen-

son High in 2005, was the first to hear his name called when Buffalo selected him as its 68th overall pick in the third round.

He graduated from Louisiana State Uni-versity in December, finishing his career with 30 starts in three years at inside linebacker and finishing ninth in school history with 311 career tackles.

He was named All-Southeastern Confer-ence in 2010.

Sheppard collected 102 tackles and 10 sacks as he helped lead the 2005 Stephenson Jaguars to a 12-2 record and an appearance

Dwayne Harris Kelvin SheppardDa’Norris Searcy

Please see NFL, page 12

2 CommunityShoe drive now has drop-off site

CEO expects midyear millage rate increase

METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGSMAY 16 & 17, 2011

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority will hold public hearings for the purpose of considering

Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Operating and Capital Funds Budget,Proposed Service Changes for September 24, 2011 and Proposed Fare Increases for October 2, 2011.

Monday, May 16 Tuesday, May 17141 Pryor Street, Atlanta, 30303

ATLANTAFulton County Government Center

Community Exchange: 6:00 - 7:00 P.M.

Hearing: 7:00 P.M.Riding MARTA:Bus route 49 from Five Points station.

Special bus shuttle also provided.

5600 Stonewall Tell Rd, College Park, 30349

SOUTH FULTONService Center


Hearing: 7:00 P.M.Riding MARTA: Bus route 180 from the

College Park Rail station.

also on Monday:

1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur 30030

DEKALBMaloof Auditorium


Hearing: 7:00 P.M.Riding MARTA:

Walk one block west of Decatur station.

7741 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, 30350

NORTH FULTONService Center


Hearing: 7:00 P.M.Riding MARTA: Bus route 87 from

Dunwoody or North Springs rail stations.

also on Tuesday:

Information on the proposed fare and bus service modifications will alsobe available at MARTA’s Office of External Affairs, 2424 Piedmont Road, N.E.Atlanta, Georgia 30324 during regular business hours, Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to5:00 p.m., Sat 9:00 a.m. to12 Noon, and on the website www.itsmarta.com.

For formats (FREE of charge) in accordance with the ADA and LimitedEnglish Proficiency regulations contact (404) 848-4037. For those patronsrequiring further accommodations, information can be obtained by calling theTelephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 404 848-5665.

In addition, a sign language interpreter will be available at all hearings. Ifyou cannot attend the hearings and want to provide comments you may: (1)leave a message at (404) 848-5299; (2) write to MARTA’s Office of ExternalAffairs, 2424 Piedmont Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30324-3330; (3) complete an online Comment Card at www.itsmarta.com; (4) or fax yourcomments no later than May 27, 2011 to (404) 848-4179.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority complies with all federalregulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national ori-gin in its programs, benefits, services or activities. Complaints, or inquiriesregarding Title VI compliance, may be directed in writing to the Office ofDiversity and Equal Opportunity at 2424 Piedmont Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324or 404-848-5240.

All citizens of the City of Atlanta and the counties of Fulton, DeKalb,Clayton and Gwinnett whose interests are affected by the subjects to be con-sidered at these hearings are hereby notified and invited to appear at said timesand places and present such evidence, comment or objection as their interests require.

Beverly A. Scott, Ph.D. General Manager/CEO

PROPOSED BUS SERVICE MODIFICATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

PROPOSED FARE CHANGESFOR OCTOBER 2, 2011

FARE CATEGORIES CURRENT: 10/03/10 PROPOSED: 10/02/11

Base (one way) $2.00 . . . . . . . . $2.50

Reduced (Half-Fare) $0.90 . . . . . . . . $0.95

Mobility Base (one way) $3.60 . . . . . . . . $3.80

7-Day Pass $17.00 . . . . . . . $23.75

30-Day Pass $68.00 . . . . . . . $95.00

Mobility Pass $115.00 . . . . . . . $122.00

TMA Discounts 0% - 10% . . . . . No change

Children (46” max, limit 2) Free with Adult . . . No change

Route 3 – Martin Luther King Jr. Drive/Auburn Avenue – Modifyroute to provide alternating trips via Barfield Avenue, Larchwood Street andWynwood Drive until 8:00 PM.

Route 25 – Peachtree Industrial – Modify route to operate from LenoxStation to serve the Doraville Station (as currently operated) and theMedical Center Station on an alternating basis. The route will operate to theMedical Center Station via Brookhaven Station along Peachtree Road,Johnson Ferry Road and Peachtree Dunwoody Road.

Route 50 – Donald L. Hollowell Parkway – Modify route to operatewithin the Carroll Heights Loop as follows: Fairburn Road, Mercury Drive,Clovis Court, Croft Place, Bolton Road, Adkins Road, Crosby Drive, AlfredDrive, Amber Road, Fulton Industrial Blvd., Old Gordon Road, M.L. King Jr.Drive and Bolton Road then continue regular route during peak periods.Maintain current routing during midday and evening periods with selectedtrips operating via Harriett Darnell Senior Multipurpose Center.

Route 51 – Joseph E. Boone Blvd./Dixie Hills – Modify route tooperate to/from West Lake Station via Anderson Avenue, Waterbury Drive,Anderson Avenue, Tiger Flowers Drive, Carver Drive, Hyacinth Drive,Verbena Street, Penelope Street, Wadley Street to Tiger Flowers Drive andcontinue regular route. Additionally, trips will alternate via Collier HeightsApartments until 8:00 PM. The segment along Verbena Street betweenPenelope Street and Chenault Place will be discontinued.

Route 99 – Boulevard/Monroe Drive – Modify route to operate fromGA State Station on the Blue line to serve the North Avenue Station via NorthAvenue. The current service from GA State Station to Midtown Station willcontinue as currently operated on an alternating basis throughout the dayon weekdays only. Additionally, the trips that operate via North Avenue willoperate via the King Memorial Station via Jackson Street, Decatur Street,Hilliard Street and Edgewood Avenue to/from GA State Station on weekdaysonly. Saturday and Sunday services from GA State Station to MidtownStation remain unchanged.

Route 181 – Buffington Road/South Fulton Park& Ride – Modifyroute to operate to/from College Park Station via Roosevelt Highway toBuffington Road and continue regular route instead of as currently operat-ed to/from College Park Station via Interstate 85 and GA-14- Spur toBuffington Road.

fiscal 2011 tax rate in late June and potential future expenditure reductions, in the context of the county’s ongoing financial strain as demonstrated by negative fund balance re-serves and limited liquidity positions.

The review will incorporate the county’s continued development of formal cash man-agement practices and operating policies.

Ellis said the county has been in commu-nication with Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s and is working with the Board of Commis-sioners to reach a solution. He said he expects the board to increase the millage rate when it makes midyear budget adjustments in June.

The administration also has blamed the series of credit rating downgrades on the un-willingness of the Board of Commissioners to implement the tax increase included Ellis’ proposed budget.

It was the second consecutive year that the board refused to raise taxes.

Since 2008, the county has cut $113 million from its budget.

The rating downgrades will increase the cost of the interest the county will pay on future indebtedness but do not increase pay-ments on existing debt.

So far, fallout from the budget cuts includes the layoffs of 82 fire recruits, postponement of the training for 40 police recruits and the elimination of police crime scene investigators from nonviolent crimes, and the elimination of Saturday hours.

Moody’s said county officials anticipate issuing tax anticipation notes in June, the first time in a decade, to provide a cushion against the practice of using inter-fund borrowing from restricted funds to cover shortfalls prior to property tax collections in September and November.

Based on the cash flow statements as well as conversations with management, Moody’s said it believes that the county would be able to continue to fund its operations if it is unable to sell the TANs.

CREDIT, fRom pagE 1

The Soul Project, which is collecting 50,000 pairs of new and used shoes to send to Liberia, now has a drop-off location.

Martin Kumi, the project’s founder, said Thursday that individuals and groups can bring donations to Inspiring Kids Academy, 5051 Snapfinger Woods Drive in Decatur.

Kumi said that response after an April 16 article in CrossRoadsNews was so great that he was unable to pick up from everyone.

“Inspiring Kids is partnering with us and has offered us storage space,” said Kumi, who is collecting new and gently used sneakers and flat-heeled shoes for children who walk up to 10 miles barefoot to go to school.

Since 2008, Kumi has collected more than 100,000 pairs with the help of DeKalb students, churches and individuals and has taken them to Ghana. This year, he taking shoes to Liberia and seeking donations through July.

Kendall Simmons, Inspiring Kids assis-tant executive director, said Kumi’s project is a natural fit for his nonprofit, which has an 82,000- square-foot building in the Snapfinger Woods Business Park.

Simmons said they have donated 15,000 square feet to store the shoes. “We are passion-ate about kids and he is helping kids. He had a big enough ‘why’ for us to get involved.”

He is hosting a shoe drive on May 14 to help Kumi exceed his goal. “We are holding the shoe drive along with our open house for our summer camp. The first 50 people to drop off shoes will get Braves tickets.”

For more information, call 678-851-1005.

CrossRoadsNews May 7, 20112

3Community The poll shows that 73 percent of respondents from unincorporated DeKalb County said yes to Sunday sales.

Sunday sale law popular in DeKalb

Congressman’s Veterans Expo draws crowdJohnny Cole of Decatur, left, speaks with Mike Noles of the American Legion of Georgia about a claim.

Veterans and members of the U.S. armed forces got to tap into a range of federal and local resources during the expo at DeKalb Tech.

Voters in unincorporated DeKalb County and Dunwoody overwhelmingly support the sale of alco-hol on Sundays, according to a poll released May 2 by Guided Precision Services.

With nearly three out of every four individuals an-swering in the affirmative, support crosses all segments of both communities, the polling firm concluded.

The April 29 poll randomly interviewed people who voted in at least two of the three elections in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

On April 28, Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law Sen-ate Bill 10, which allows local communities to vote to allow the sale of alcohol in stores on Sunday. Several communities are preparing to hold referendums this year.

Respondents were asked two questions:n Do you support the sale of alcohol on Sundays? and n Would you support a candidate for office who does not support your position on Sunday alcohol sales?

More than 40 percent of voters in both areas said they would not support a candidate who does not share their particular position on the issue.

The poll showed that 73 percent of respondents from unincorporated DeKalb County support for Sunday sales.

Fifty-seven percent said they would support a can-didate who does not share their position on the issue, while 43 percent said no. There were 218 responses with a margin of error of 6 percent.

In Dunwoody, 72 percent said yes to support for Sunday sales and 28 percent said no. Fifty-three percent said they would support a candidate who did not share their position, while 47 percent said no. There were 286 responses with a margin of error of 5.5 percent.

The poll was conducted jointly by Florida-based Guided Precision Services, which has offices in Dun-woody, and the Hicks Evaluation Group consulting firms.

Hundreds of veterans, military per-sonnel and their families received assis-tance at the Veterans and Armed Forces Expo last week in Clarkston.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, who hosted the April 29 expo at DeKalb Technical College, said veterans deserve special attention.

“Helping veterans and military per-sonnel receive the benefits they deserve is one of the main reasons I serve,” said Johnson, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

More than 400 veterans, military personnel and their families received free information about available services and on-site assistance with benefits, includ-ing employment opportunities, housing, health care, education and filing Veterans Affairs claims.

Dozens of veterans’ organizations provided services, including the Geor-gia Department of Veterans Service, the Georgia Department of Defense, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the Veterans Health Administration.

The event, held in conjunction with

De Kalb County, included appearances by Maj. Gen. Maria L. Britt, commanding general of the Georgia Army National Guard, and DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis.

Since Johnson took office in 2007, his office has helped veterans secure more than $2 million in benefits.

CrossRoadsNewsMay 7, 2011 3

4

INDEX PAGE

Community

index to advertisers

Veterans Expo draws crowd 3Veterans, military personnel and their

families received assistance at the Veterans and Armed Forces Expo last week.

Event to help job hunters 5Job hunters can get help this month

designing the perfect resume at the Depart-ment of Labor offices and Career Centers.

Springboard for success 6In 2008, Marcell Minor was working one

day a week for $6 an hour at the Cumber-land Footlocker and dabbling in music.

Afeni Shakur’s story returns to stage 10

The life story of Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, is coming to the stage again.

Peters inaugurated at ITC 11The Rev. Dr. Ronald Edward Petersis the

new president of the Interdenominational Theological Center.

Green alternatives 11Families can celebrate the importance of

a green environment at the DeKalb Coopera-tive Extension’s annual Spring Festival.

Lady Saints capture title 12The Cedar Grove Lady Saints scored 88

points on the second day of competition to capture the Region 5-AAA girls track title at Woodward Academy on May 2.

Private school opening second DeKalb location 13

Camp Jewell House private school will be cutting the ribbons on its Lithonia location.

CBC Spouse scholarships 13Students can apply for from the Congres-

sional Black Caucus Spouses Foundation.

ATM Constructors, Inc. ..................................15Auto 285 .......................................................14Beautiful Babes Hair Care for Children .........15Best Buy Co. Inc. .................................... InsertsCake Café Atlanta .......................................... 11Claxton Law Group .......................................14DeKalb Convention & Visitor’s Bureau ........... 3F.I.E.R.C.E. Dance Team ................................15

Georgia Regional Transportation Authority ..15Green Grease Inc. ..........................................6Hair by Gynesis .............................................14Kilombo Academic & Cultural Institute .........15Love Radio ....................................................15Macy’s ............................................................ 7Majic Kids USA ..............................................15Malcolm Cunningham Auto Gallery............. 16

MARTA ........................................................... 2Mechanixx Corporation .................................14Mystery Valley Golf Club ................................9Newburn Reynolds Photography ................. 10Omega One Insurance .................................14Solid Source Realty GA ..................................6South DeKalb YMCA .....................................15St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church .................... 10

Stephenson Middle Baseball.........................15Sterling Health Plans ......................................9Team Blue Tennis..........................................15The Batter’s Box ............................................15The Law Office of B.A. Thomas ....................14Tupac Shakur Center for the Arts .................. 11Wells Fargo .................................................... 5Wright Vision Care .........................................9

QuiCk Read

“The Red Cross has worked very hard with us to identify and establish shelters situated throughout DeKalb County.”

CrossRoadsNews is pub-lished every Thursday by CrossRoads News, 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.

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LOCAL

SERVICES!LOCAL

GOODS!

Farmers market returns to Mall at Stonecrest

Red Cross agreement helps grow DeKalb shelter numbers

PRISM encore for Probate Judge Input needed on animals

Fresh produce will be available at the East Metro Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting May 7, in the parking lot in front of Borders Books.

Garden-fresh produce and preserves are available once again at the Mall at Stonecrest.

The seasonal East Metro Farm-ers’ Market opens May 7 in the parking lot in front of Borders Books at the Lithonia mall.

The market, which had a six-week trial opening last fall, will op-erate Saturdays until Thanksgiving from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. It will primarily feature ultra-local produce grown within 10 miles of the mall.

This season, Cadillac Fairview is partnering with nearby Wesley Apartment Homes to present the market featuring a cast of local farmers and artisans. Vendors in-clude Bobby Britt’s Bes Maid Gar-den Essentials, Brady Bala’s Double B Farm, Bellas Best Cookies, Just Butter (shea butter) and Soap Therapy, T-Bell’s Fresh Chunky Salsa, Heavenly Pastries and artists like Gina Chaney.

The farmer-operators who will man their booths include small farms or collections of urban

micro-farms. Produce includes mushrooms, lettuces, beets, fancy greens, flowers, and many unusual, ethnic or hard-to-find fresh crops.

There also will be a guest chef for each market to prepare timesav-ing and delicious recipes with fresh produce.

On May 7, sous chef James

Hogan of Strip Steaks & Sushi will show off some of his Southwestern recipes. Texas-born Hogan has 20 years of experience in the culinary arts and was a chef with Houston’s for five years.

The East Metro market ac-cepts EBT and Snap Program for payment of purchases. With the

“Wholesome Wave Double Value program,” for every dollar spent, recipients get two dollars to spend at the market, doubling access to healthy, fresh and affordable locally grown food.

The mall is off I-20 at Turner Hill Road. For more information, visit www.mallatstonecrest.com.

DeKalb residents can attend two community meetings this month to provide input on reducing the number of animals euthanized in the county and how to improve quality of life.

Thousands of cats and dogs have been put to death over the past three years. Between 2007 and 2009, the number of euthanized animals rose from 3,800 to nearly 5,500.

The DeKalb Animal Services Task Force and Animal Ser-vices & Enforcement are hosts for the meetings, set for May 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Miller Grove High School, 2645 DeKalb Medical Parkway in Lithonia, and May 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Dunwoody High School, 5035 Vermack Road in Dunwoody.

Residents are encouraged to complete a survey at www .dekalbcountyga.gov/astf. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/astf.

More emergency shelters will be avail-able to DeKalb residents in the event of natural or man-made disasters in the wake of a partnership between the county and the American Red Cross.

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis and Public Safety Director William Z. Miller an-nounced the agreements on May 4 and said that 12 locations will function as shelters when situations warrant it.

DeKalb County Pro-bate Judge Jeryl Debra Rosh will discuss legal issues at a May 12 PRISM community meeting in Stone Mountain.

The free program, which begins at 7 p.m. at St. Timothy United Methodist Church, will cover estate planning in DeKalb, how guardians of both children and adults are appointed, mental health concerns and the law, and

little-known facts of the legal system.

Rosh was among presenters at a February PRISM meeting that focused on resources for se-niors, and she is back by popular demand.

St. Timothy United Method-ist Church is at 5365 Memorial Drive. The free event is spon-

sored by Pride Rings in Stone Mountain. For more information, contact state Rep. Michele Henson, program chair, at michele [email protected] or 404-296-1442.

William Miller

Jeryl Rosh

“The Red Cross has worked very hard with us to identify and establish shelters situated throughout DeKalb County and our neighboring jurisdictions that will be responsive to the needs of our citizens in times of emergency,” Miller said.

The county cannot identify the loca-tion of shelters prior to an emergency. Seven additional emergency shelter loca-tions are currently being identified.

The agreements are part of ongoing efforts by DeKalb’s Emergency Manage-ment Agency to ensure that the county has the adequate number of shelters in proportion to its population and geog-raphy.

County personnel have been working with local organizations and surveying potential sites to ensure locations meet Red Cross guidelines and requirements.


5Job hunters can get help this

month designing the perfect re-sume at the Georgia Department of Labor’s RésuMAY event at state Labor offices and Career Centers.

The event will focus on résu-mé-writing tools and year-round employment-related services.

The department will be joined by Vocational Rehabilitation of-fices and Workforce Investment Boards in the effort that is targeted to all job seekers, including older workers, professionals and the long-term unemployed.

Labor Commissioner Mark Butler, who launched the program on May 3, said résu-

Small-business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs can attend a free seminar on starting and growing a business on May 19 in downtown Lithonia.

State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick, who is co-sponsoring the National Small Business Week Forum in partnership with DeKalb County Parks and Recreation and the DeKalb and Rockdale Chambers of Com-merce, said it will be an excellent opportunity for small-business owners and aspiring en-trepreneurs to learn about job creation from local business leaders.

“We’re focused on getting Georgia’s economy back on track, and that work begins in our own communities,” said Kendrick, whose 94th House District includes parts of DeKalb and Rockdale counties.

The “Empowering Businesses Through

Community PG

FinanCe “Anything we can do to help the community help itself is a good idea. The area needs to take steps to revitalize itself.”

Business seminar taking rsvps

Stone Mountain gets green light to create CID

Toastmasters to help job seekers hone skills

Dar’shun Kendrick

© 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801

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Our Community” forum will be held at the Lucious Sanders Recreation Center from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

Lithonia Mayor Tonya Peter-son and Con yers Mayor Randal S. Mills will moderate a “Dream Team” panel offering partici-pants the opportunity to ask questions of bankers, business

attorneys, and certified public accoun-tants. Information on resources for small-business owners also will be available.

A complimentary breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

The Lucious Sanders Recreation Cen-ter is at 2484 Bruce St.

For more information or to register, visit www.nsbwforum.eventbrite.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 404-656-0109.

The city of Stone Mountain will now have a self-taxing community improvement district.

At its April 26 meeting, the DeKalb Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution to create a CID.

Forty-four of the area’s 89 owners, who own 75 percent of all real property – assessed at $72.7 million, consented to the formation of the CID. The total assessed value of the district is $97 million.

With the CID, commercial, industrial and office properties can dedicate a portion of property taxes to improvements of streets and sidewalks, parks and recreation, storm water improvements, and parking facilities.

Commissioner Elaine Boyer, whose District 1 includes Stone Mountain, said the plan will help the community.

“Anything we can do to help the community help itself is a good idea. The area needs to take steps to revitalize itself.

Devoting a portion of its own taxes to self improvement is a great first step.”

CIDs already exist in Perimeter Center, Buckhead, Lilburn, Cumberland, South Fulton and Midtown among others. Property owners in the Wesley Chapel Road corridor are in the process of forming a CID.

The Stone Mountain CID’s first organiz-ing meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. on June 16 at the Hampton Inn, 1737 Mountain Industrial Blvd. Five district board members, who will run the CID, will be elected.

Elaine Boyer

Mark Butler

ResuMAY to help job hunters sell themselvesmé-writing assistance is one of the most popular and valuable services that the work force system offers.

“Studies have shown that an employer makes a decision about a job seeker within the first 30 seconds of looking at a résumé,” Butler said.

“That’s why a well-written résumé is critical; otherwise the

applicant may not get an opportunity to interview for a job. Through RésuMAY, we’ll be able to better equip job seekers to market their skills to employers.”

RésuMAY resources include Type Ex-plore Discover (Ask TED), a live online chat

scheduled for May 25 devoted to résumés; a series of new online résumé-writing podcasts; and new online resources and marketing materials for job seekers to download.

Career Centers and other one-stop centers will offer résumé workshops, employer-led feedback discussions, ré-sumé contests, and one-on-one intensive résumé sessions. Plans also are under way to offer these résumé-writing activities at career expos, schools, military installations, churches and libraries.

For more information and a list of statewide events, visit www.dol.state.ga.us and click on RésuMAY.

Job seekers and college students can get tips on the all-important job interview at two Toastmasters seminars this month.

Phoenix Rising Toastmasters Club is hosting its “How to Prepare for the Job Interview” and “How to Improve Com-munication Skills Through Toastmasters” on May 9 at the Scott Candler Library at 2644 McAfee Road and on May 24 at the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel Road.

Both seminars are 6 to 8 p.m. Partici-pants will learn how to answer tough ques-tions and control the job interview. They will get tips on what the employer is look-ing for and how to sharpen their interview, communication and leadership skills.

For more information, call Les Young at 770-255-9596 or Ingrid Richburg at 678-825-5118.


6By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

In 2008, Marcell Minor was working one day a week for $6 an hour at the Cumberland Footlocker and dabbling in music.

Fast-forward three years, and Minor is making $65,000 a year, fielding three to five job offers every other day.

What happened in between?Minor took a six-month information

technology course at Decatur-based Om-nitech Institute and got certified.

“It can almost immediately get you a job,” Minor said Wednesday. “You won’t suffer from the recession. As a man you will be able to take care of your family.”

Minor said he had no idea what IT was until it was introduced to him at Omnitech where he had gone to take a course in sound engineering to help him be a better music producer.

“I knew that I live in a digital age,” said Minor, 25, “but I didn’t know it was that lucrative of a field.”

Charlton Lester, Omnitech’s founder and a former corporate IT trainer, knew that the field was a sure route to economic indepen-dence. That is why the man who did technical support at Hewlett-Packard, Owens Corning and MCI founded Omnitech.

“I was training hundreds of people but very few of us were in those classes,” he said. “The digital divide was very real. African-Americans were using the Internet just as consumers. I wanted to train blacks to get into the IT field.”

But Lester knew it could be so much more.

In 2008, he gathered a group friends and began offering network solutions and data-base and Web design training.

“This is something that can change your whole family dynamics,” he said. “So many young people have the odds stacked against them. This can give them a real chance at success.”

Lester launched Omnitech Institute in June 1999 in a 1,500-square-foot space in a Covington Highway office building.

He started with one classroom, a dozen students and a single office with a reception area.

Today, the institute occupies 19,000 square feet on two levels in the same of-fice building and it enrolls more than 500

Marcell Minor

Finance “I was training hundreds of people but very few of us were in those classes. The digital divide was very real.”

Instructor Shequita Jones (from left) helps medical assistant students Joy Jackson and Britany Barnes.

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cation to administer Title IV funding.Renee Alston, Omnitech’s financial aid

director, said that students can qualify for up to $2,500 to pay for tuition and fees under the school’s Harvest Institute Scholarship program.

“We strive to assist our students by of-fering them varied alternatives to pay their tuition and fees,” she said.

Lester said new graduates start at $10 to $12 an hour, and within a year of graduation, some make up to $80,000 a year.

“We know the economic war zone of the streets,” Lester said. “Everyone can’t go to col-lege. Omnitech gives them an opportunity to get career skills, get trained, get certified and get paid by landing successful jobs.”

Omnitech students range in age from 18 to 60 years old.

“Mr. Lester” – as his students call him – said adults can train for first careers or find new careers.

As the institute prepares to mark its 12th anniversary in June, Lester said it is awaiting

IRS approval to become a nonprofit and is seeking accreditation to offer four-year degrees, a yearlong process it started last October.

With accreditation, Lester said the school will establish a School of Business and Entrepreneurship offering accounting and other business courses, a School of Music and Audio Engineering, a School of Tech-nology, and a School of Health and Medical Technology.

Minor, the 2009 graduate, said that Om-nitech taught him the basics of IT.

“Once you know the basics, you can do whatever you want,” he said. “Every day I go back to the basics.”

Last month Minor, who had returned to his native Chicago, was hired by the Chicago Board of Exchange as a network administra-tor to trouble-shoot and solve computer network issues. He also is going to school to get a bachelor’s degree.

Minor said he knew nothing of IT before he went to Omnitech.

“Omnitech introduced me to it,” he said. “IT is something I really love now. Omnitech taught me to keep an open mind and get to work on time. You had to get to class on time. They were very strict on that and it got ingrained in you.”

His first job after graduation earned him $16 an hour.

“I had never seen that kind of money before,” Minor said.

Lester said he gets a thrill out of making a positive impact on people.

“It warms my heart,” he said. “Part of my purpose is to empower and help people to change their standard of living and put money into their pockets.”

Omnitech is at 4319 Covington Highway in Decatur. For more information, visit om-nitech.edu or call 404-284-8121.

Omnitech Institute founder Charlton Lester, a former corporate IT trainer, looks in on information technology/audio student Valentina Winkfield work on a computer at the Decatur School.

Omnitech courses offer springboard for success

students annually in vocational, technical and medical fields. Forty percent of those students take IT, which includes network engineering, technology support, systems analysis, and desktop support. The rest of the students take medical technology, which includes medical billing and coding, medi-cal assistant and Certified Nursing Assistant courses, and audio engineering courses.

The school offers associate degrees and it is accredited by the Council on Education and certified by the U.S. Department of Edu-

Photos by Jennifer ffrench Parker / crossroadsnews


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8 Finance The Best of East Metro Small Business Expo was a hit

More than 50 individuals and business owners picked up their awards during the April 30 Best of East Metro Small Business Expo.

DeKalb Commissioner Lee May with daughters, Regan, in his arms, and Ryan, poses with his “Best Commissioner” Award and CrossRoadsNews Editor/Publisher Jennifer Parker.

Children’s author Victoria Attmore and her whimsical book, The Chocolate Forest.

DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Membership Vice President Jackie Ginn speaks on the panel about resources for small business. Looking on are panellists DEBCO’s executive Charles Blackmon and DeKalb Contract Compliance Division deputy director Sharon Walker.

“Best Asian” Restuarant winner, Exotic Thai’s Tong Arthakorn and his daughter Claire (in blue) and wife Sonthaya (in yellow), and staff.

DeKalb NAACP President John Evans with his “Best Local Activist” award. He also won that award last

State Farm agent DeVon Hudson with his “Best Insurance Agent” award.

Attorney Boykin Edwards and his wife Jean pose with their “Best Law Firm” award. At left CrossRoadsNews Jennifer Parker; and account rep. Patricia Walthour.

Dancers from The Conservatory of Dance and Fine Arts in Decatur entertained expo goers.The high-stepping, hip shaking Beulah Boys was a crowd favorite during the Best of Expo.


9“Your health, while working on a

job, should not be compromised because people around you are

permitted to smoke.” Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford

With growing incidence of smoking-related illnesses, the DeKalb Board of Health wants the county to extend its smoke-free ban to more locations, including outdoors.

The board is urging county commission-ers to amend the Clean Indoor Air Ordinance to make businesses, parks and other outdoor venues, and more facilities smoke-free.

It voted April 21 to amend the ordinance and has sent it to the Board of Commission-ers for consideration and adoption.

Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford, the district’s health director, said the push for the expansion of the smoking ban is prompted by concern for residents and employees who work around smokers.

“Your health, while working on a job, should not be compromised because people around you are permitted to smoke,” she said in a May 2 statement.

The current ordinance allows smoking at free-standing bars, adult entertainment establishments and outdoor venues, includ-ing parks.

The proposed amendment bans smok-ing in those places and a number of others, such as playgrounds; entrances and exits to buildings; outdoor entertainment venues; and outdoor service lines, such as the line at an ATM. The proposal also decreases the number of rooms a hotel can designate for smoking from 25 percent to 10 percent.

Wellness If approved by the Board of Commissioners, DeKalb County would join several other metro areas that have banned outdoor smoking.

Emory study tests monkeys’ memory

Test for radon simple, inexpensive RSVP needs lay leader volunteers

Board of Health wants to extend smoking ban outdoors

3.12.10

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DeKalb residents can find out if a silent killer is lurking in their homes by testing for radon.

Radon, an invisible radioactive gas, is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Nationally, more than 21,000 cases of lung cancer are attributed to radon, which is caused by the decay of uranium in the soil and can contaminate your home and poison your family.

The only way to find out if you and your family are at risk of radon exposure is to

administer a simple radon test.Testing for elevated levels of radon is

simple and inexpensive, the DeKalb Coop-erative Extension says.

Cooperative Extension is offering radon test kits for $5 at the office at 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 200, in Decatur. By mail, the kits are $6.50.

Kits also are available at local hardware and home improvement stores or directly from radon testing companies.

For more information, contact Edda Cotto-Rivera at 404-298-4080.

Volunteers 55 and older are needed for the Chronic Disease Self-Management Lay Leader Program.

The Metro Atlanta RSVP Volunteer Program, sponsored by the Atlanta Re-gional Commission, Area Agency on Ag-ing, is recruiting volunteers.

The four-day CDSMP Lay Leader Volunteer Training will be held May 16-19. Volunteers will learn how to empower

individuals to self-manage chronic condi-tions and deal with negative emotions as well as learn the importance of eating well and exercising and how to solve problems effectively.

Volunteers who attend the workshop are asked to commit to facilitate one to two six-week workshops per year. For more informa-tion, contact Ellen Naumann at [email protected] or 404-463-3119.

Monkeys can recall and reproduce simple shapes from memory, a new study at Emory Uni-versity shows.

Researchers say that identifying this recall ability is critical to our understanding of the evolution of memory and other cognitive abilities, and it could be applied to better diagnosing and treat-ing memory impairments in humans. The finding by Emory psychologists and Yerkes National Primate Research Center researchers Ben Basile and Robert Hampton was published April 28 in the journal Cur-rent Biology.

The psychologists de-veloped a computer touch-screen method to test the recall power of rhesus monkeys at the Yerkes Research Center at Emory. Basile said monkey mem-ory performance paral-leled that of humans.

“Our observations of recall in Old World monkeys suggest it may have been adaptive in primates long before humans evolved, and that it does not depend on language or anything else that is uniquely human,” Basile said in a statement issued May 3.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/monkeymemory.

As soon as news of the pro-posed amend-ments became p u b l i c , t w o Georgia-based premium cigar associations said expansion of the ordinance may drive away business.

The Atlanta-based Georgia Premium Retail Tobacconists Association and the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retail-ers Association said expanding the current smoking ban to include bars, clubs, restau-rant patios and other outdoor areas would cause customers to seek other, more smoker-friendly businesses in other communities.

But Ford said that for every argument of lost revenues for businesses impacted by the proposed amendment, she can show data from other cities that have passed 100 per-cent smoke-free policies with little reduction

in revenues.Jim Luftman, GPRTA’s

president, said it’s a par-ticularly bad time to ex-pand the ban.

“If an owner of a busi-ness or property desig-nates it as smoke-free, then that’s his or her

business to do so or not, and that includes all city- or county-owned prop-erty,” said Luft-man, who owns Blue Havana II

Cigars in Alpharetta.Earlier this year, Alpharetta approved

an ordinance banning tobacco use at its six city parks and along more than six miles of greenway trails.

Arlene Parker Gold-son, the Board of Health’s acting chair, said visitors to outdoor venues are entitled to a smoke-free environment.

“It is our hope that the Board of Commissioners passes this amendment so that this summer millions of residents and visitors who enjoy DeKalb’s parks, mountains, bike trails and nature preserves will be able to breathe cleaner air and sit in parks not littered with old cigarette butts,” Goldson said.

The Department of Health and Human Services has proved that tobacco use, par-ticularly smoking – which can lead to cancer, is one of the leading preventable causes of

death in the United States.The DeKalb Board of Health says that

eliminating smoking in public places has been proved to reduce the number of tobacco-related illnesses and deaths, which number more than 11,000 each year in Georgia.

Smoking bans in places of employment also have been shown to lower maintenance expenses related to cleaning and insurance premiums including medical and fire, the board said.

The Surgeon General’s Report on Smok-ing and Tobacco Use shows that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, which contributes to severe health problems such as cancer, emphysema, heart disease, sudden infant death syndrome and asthma in both smokers and nonsmokers.

If approved by the Board of Commis-sioners, DeKalb County would join several other metro areas that have banned outdoor smoking.

Roswell passed a smoking ban for its 18 municipal parks last summer. Marietta’s 19 parks went smoke-free in 2009, and Al-pharetta approved an ordinance in March banning tobacco use at city parks and along greenway trails.

For more information, visit www .dekalbhealth.net/DPPW/index.html or con-tact Nykia Greene-Young at 404-294-3844.

Robert HamptonBen Basile

Jim Luftman

Arlene P. Goldson


10

The Kids Fishing Festival gets under way at 10 a.m. on May 7 at Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge.

The ninth annual Spring Fling Festival and Tour of Homes includes a 5K run on May 14 through Kirkwood’s tree-lined streets.

Danye Brown (in blue) will play Afeni Shakur in play that opens May 13, exactly 40 years from the day of Shakur was acquitted in trial of Black Panther members.

Afeni Shakur’s one-woman self-defense returns to stagescene Afeni Shakur, facing more than 200 years in jail, defended herself

against 156 charges in the Trial of the New York Panther 21.

Young anglers can learn fishing tips

Kirkwood hosts 5K run, spring fest

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Ki d s 1 5 a n d younger can hook catfish and bluegill while learning about aquatic habitats at the May 7 Kids Fish-ing Festival at Pa-nola Mountain State Park.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., kids can get tips on fishing and iden-tifying fish and other fishing skills. An ar-chery range, fly-fish-ing, tree climbing, wildlife encounters and more will be available.

Participants must bring their own bait and rods and meet at Alexander Lake 30 minutes before each program.

Panola Mountain State Park is at 2600

Highway 155 in Stockbridge. Parking is $5, and parents must register their kids in advance.

For more information, call 770-389-7801.

Families can participate in a 5K run and tour houses at the ninth annual Spring Fling Festival and Tour of Homes on May 14-15.

The weekend’s activities begin with the 5K run at 8 a.m. on May 14 in downtown Kirkwood. Runners will meander through Kirkwood’s tree-lined streets and finish at Bessie Branham Park, the site of the Spring Fling Festival, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The festival, which is hosted by the his-toric Atlanta neighborhood of Kirkwood, will feature an artist market with more than

90 high-quality artisans and crafters show-casing handmade products.

Activities for children include hands-on crafts, storytelling, a moon bounce, art show and games.

There also will be music, food and drinks from a variety of restaurants and street food carts.

The tour of homes will showcase build-ing styles from classic Victorian cottages to Craftsman bungalows and modern lofts.

For more information, visit www.Kirk woodFling.com.

The life story of Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, is coming to the stage again.

The short play and a gallery exhibit about the Shakur one-woman self-defense will be at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain on May 13, 14, 15 and 20 to 22.

Opening night for “Afeni Shakur: In Her Defense – A Short Play & Gallery Exhibit” will be at the Tupac Shakur Center exactly 40 years from the day of Afeni Shakur’s acquit-tal. It includes a special VIP performance, food and live music.

While she was pregnant with Tupac, the late hip-hop icon and movie actor, 24-year-old Shakur was among a number of Black Panther Party leaders who were charged in a conspiracy to blow up New York City de-partment stores, subway stations and police stations.

Despite the advice of co-counsel, the court, husband and friends, Shakur, who was facing more than 200 years in jail, de-fended herself against 156 charges in what became known as the Trial of the New York Panther 21.

The play, originally compiled from court records by Tre’ Maxie, will feature her origi-nal opening statement, cross-examination

of informants, and an eloquent closing statement.

It is written and directed by Hilda Willis, who recently received acclaim for her role in “Mad at Miles” and oversight in Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre August Wilson Monologue Competition.

The production captures Shakur’s in-nermost thoughts and feelings after being

released on a $100,000 bail raised by the community, churches, celebrities and activ-ists including Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Jane Fonda, Barbara Ann, and Fredrica Teer, only to have her bail revoked and being returned to jail.

The exhibit, which accompanies the dra-matic production, includes original TV news coverage from 1969-1971 anchored by CBS’

Walter Cronkite and others. Tickets are $40 for the Opening Night

VIP Reception and Show and $20 for adults and $10 for students for the other perfor-mances. Sunday matinee shows are $15 for adults and $5 for students.

The Tupac Center is at 5616 Memorial Drive. For tickets and more information, visit www.tasf.org or call 404-298-4222.


11

Dr. Joseph L. Crawford Sr. (from left), chair of the ITC board of trustees; Bishop Alfred Norris, retired bishop of the United Methodist Church; and Dr. Mark Lomax, assistant homiletics professor, at the April 19 inauguration of the Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Peters, at right.

In addition to jewelry, the sale at the Decatur Square Gazebo on May 16 includes gently used handbags, scarves, ties and belts.

Peters inaugurated at ITC

scene “Over the years, we have raised thousands of dollars for the center and many men and women have found hidden treasures.”

Jewelry sale aids Rape Crisis Center

Festival explores green alternatives

Like us on....

for news updates & maybe a surprise!

“Like” CrossRoadsNews, Inc. on Facebook and you’ll be eligible to win prizes such as gasoline cards, restaurant vouchers or other neat gifts.


“Like” CrossRoadsNews, Inc. on Facebook and you’ll be eligible to win prizes such as gasoline cards, free dinners at local restaurants or other neat gifts.


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Families can celebrate the importance of a green environment at the DeKalb Coop-erative Extension’s annual Spring Festival on May 14 at North DeKalb Mall.

The free 10 a.m.-to-3 p.m. festival will include information and displays promot-ing a greener and healthier environment. There also will be opportunities to learn

about methods and natural products to help keep homes clean and fresh and sessions on nutrition and healthier cooking strategies, gardening and weatherization plus youth development events.

North DeKalb Mall is at 2050 Law-renceville Highway in Decatur. For more information, call 404-298-4080.

Fashion-conscious women can find loads of jewelry and accessories at the May 16 Jewelry Sale benefiting the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center.

The popular biannual fund-raiser will include unique, gently used jewelry, handbags, scarves, ties and belts. The sale takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Decatur Square Gazebo.

Mickie Ferrante, the jewelry sale co-ordinator, said the center also is seeking donations of items for the sale.

The center has held the sale twice a year for more than 17 years with 100 percent of the proceeds going to support its work.

“Over the years, we have raised thousands of dollars for the center and many men and women have found hidden treasures at the sale,” Ferrante said.

The Decatur Square Gazebo is 101 E. Court Square in downtown Decatur.

To donate belts, scarves, purses, men’s ties or jewelry, e-mail beth@dekalbrapecrisis center.org or call 404-317-4642.

The Rev. Dr. Ronald Edward Peters, an internationally respected preacher, author, and adviser on social witness policy and urban theological education, is the new president of the Interdenominational Theo-logical Center.

Peters was inaugurated April 19 as the college’s eighth president at the King Inter-national Chapel at Morehouse College.

Peters was most recently the Henry L. Hillman Associate Professor of Urban Minis-try and the first director of Pittsburgh Theo-logical Seminary’s Metro-Urban Institute, an interdisciplinary program of religious leader-ship development for urban society.

He will lead ITC, a consortium of six different denominational seminaries, as it continues to train preachers, pastors, aca-demic scholars, and lay leaders in Christian leadership and service in the church and the global community.

Peters said the significance of the ITC and how the collaborative seminaries work together to prepare future leaders for the church is “a gratifying ecumenical lesson to be emulated by all of us in the clergy.”

“I look forward to helping the wider society understand how the heritage of the African-American church can help strength-en the quality of life in the plural, global and increasingly urbanized society of the 21st century,” he said.

Peters, who is a native of New Orleans, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern University, the Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and his Doctor of Education de-gree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was ordained in the Pres-byterian Church and joined the Pittsburgh Seminary faculty after 18 years of pastoral leadership.


12

Twins Kayla (left) and Christian Pryor helped the Cedar Grove Lady Saints rally past St. Pius for the championship at Woodward Academy on May 2.

Lady Saints capture Region 5-AAA title Buffalo, Dallas snag trio of alums

sports East Carolina’s Dwayne Harris became the fifth Tucker Tiger to get a call in the NFL Draft as he was taken in the sixth round.

in the Class AAAAA state semifinals.He joins former Stephenson alums Perry Riley

(LSU/Washington Redskins, 2010); Jermaine Cun-ningham (Florida/New England, 2010); Demario Minter (Georgia/Cleveland, 2006); and Anthony Can-non (Tulane/Detroit, 2006) as NFL draftees.

Tucker draftees date back to 1972Searcy, who comes out of the University of North

Carolina, was Buffalo’s 100th overall pick in Round 4 of the draft. At UNC he was a safety who led the Tar Heels with four interceptions and was 15th in the na-tion. He had 37 tackles as a senior in just 10 games. He was the Tar Heels leading kick returner with a 24.9 average on 12 kickoff returns in 2010. He was fifth in the nation in punt returns during the 2009 season with a 14.6 average.

During his senior season with Towers in 2007, Searcy rushed for 1,607 yards and 16 touchdowns and was credited with 71 total tackles on defense.

East Carolina’s Dwayne Harris became the fifth Tucker Tiger to get a call in the NFL Draft as he was taken in the sixth round as the 176th overall.

Harris enters the NFL as a wide receiver/kick re-turner and as East Carolina’s all-time season receiving yardage (1,123 yards) and season receptions (101) leader, which he accomplished in the 2010 season.

His performance earned him All-Conference USA honors as a receiver and punt returner in 2010.

Harris was the Tucker Tigers quarterback in 2005, leading his team to a 10-1 record while passing for 1,334 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushing for 524 yards and seven touchdowns.

Other Tucker draftees include Asher Allen (Geor-gia/Minnesota, 2009),Thomas Brown (Georgia/Atlan-ta, 2008), Patrick Pass (Georgia/New England, 2000) and John McMakin (Clemson/Pittsburgh, 1972).

NFL, From page 1

The Cedar Grove Lady Saints scored 88 points on the second day of competition to rally past St. Pius and capture the Region 5-AAA girls track title at Woodward Academy on May 2.

Cedar Grove trailed St. Pius by 33 points (72.50 to 39.50) heading into the second day of competition, but twin sisters Christian and Kayla Pryor won five events to come out on top 120.50 to 111.50 over St. Pius.

Kayla won the 800 meter run and the 300 meter hurdles to bring home a pair of individual gold medals, and Christian won the 400 meters dash and finished second to her sister in the 800.

Cedar Grove also swept the 4 x 100 meter relay and the 4 x 400 meter relay (3:59.48) to complete its rally for the championship.

Alexus Cobb was the key to the first day’s points for Cedar Grove as she swept the long jump and triple jump.

Shannon Williams, a 2011 Gates Millennium Scholar, led Towers High to fourth place as she cap-tured a silver medal in the shot put to qualify for state and a bronze in the discus.

Arabia Mountain finished fifth with 46 points led by silver medalists Alivia Cromartie in the 100m dash and Vanessa Providence in the 200m dash.

Columbia was seventh with 39.50 points while Stone Mountain and Druid Hills tied for 11th with 12 points each.

Cedar Grove had four competitors qualify in a total five events and two relays for the state meet on May 12-14 in Albany.

Arabia Mountain had two runners qualify for state in one event each, while Towers had three com-petitors advance to state competitions and Columbia had one.

In Region 6-AA competition, Shunika Jarrells won the 100 meters dash and 200 meters dash to help Avondale to a seventh place finish in the teams standings. Shunika qualified for the state meet in the 100 meters and 200 meters dashes for the second con-secutive year to advance to Albany on May 12-14.


13Youth The CBC Spouses Education Scholarship was established in response to federal cuts in spending for education and scholarships.

Applications now open Black Caucus Spouse scholarships

Honorees integrated Atlanta high school

High school and college students have until June 1 to apply for thousands of scholarships from the Congres-sional Black Caucus Spouses Foundation.

The CBC Spouses Education Scholarship was estab-lished in response to federal cuts in spending for education programs and scholarships. The scholarship program is a national program that awards scholarships to students pursuing full-time undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degrees; who have a minimum 2.5 GPA; and who exhibit leadership abilities and participate in community service activities.

The scholarships include the CBC Spouses Cheerios Brand Health Initiative Scholarship, which supports mi-nority students pursuing degrees in the fields of medicine, engineering, technology, nutrition and other health-related professions.

Students must plan to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree full time or be a current full-time student in good academic standing at an accredited college or university, have a 2.5 GPA, and exhibit leadership abilities and participate in community service activities.

To download applications, visit http://cbcfinc.org /cbcf-scholarships.html. For more information, contact Betty Dixon at [email protected] or at 770-987-2291.

Martha Ann Holmes-Jackson and Rosalyn Walton-Lees, who were among the first black students to integrate Atlanta Public Schools in 1961, will be honored at the J.C. Murphy High School Alumni Association prayer breakfast on May 7.

The women will be recognized at the 9 a.m. breakfast at the Holiday Inn in Decatur.

Holmes-Jackson, who lives in DeKalb County, and Walton-Lees integrated Murphy High, now Alonzo A. Crim Open Campus High School.

Murphy High was one of four Atlanta high schools (Brown, Northside and Grady) that were integrated in fall 1961. Holmes-Jackson and Walton-Lees were among nine black students who integrated the all-white schools.

The Holiday Inn is at 130 Clairemont Ave. in Decatur. For more information, call 678-596-9650.

The Southwest DeKalb High boys and girls tennis teams won 6-AAAA Sub-Region titles. Coach Lance Thomas-Davenport said they faced stiff competition.

SWD tennis teams finish tough season

Private school opening second DeKalb locationCamp Jewell House private school

will be cutting the ribbons on its Litho-nia location on May 14.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place at 9 a.m. and will be followed by grand-opening festivities at 11 a.m.

The 16,000-square-foot facility at 1719 Redan East is Camp Jewell’s sec-ond location.

It also operates a school at the House of Miracles and Blessings Church on

a business operating in the residential area.

The grand opening will include a tour of the new school, food, fun and performances from local artists. Parents also can register their children for the school, its Summer Enrichment Pro-gram, and its after-school program.

For more information, visit www .campjewellhouse.org or call 770-733-1097.

Austin Drive in Decatur.The school serves children 2 years

to 12th grade. The school, which will accommodate up to 320 students at the Lithonia facility, grew out of the Camp Jewell Summer Enrichment Program.

This location replaces the school it was trying to open on Flakes Mill Road in Ellenwood in January. The plan was opposed by residents of the nearby Tara Woods subdivision who did not want

Southwest DeKalb High School’s boys and girls tennis teams finished a rigorous season highlighted by several marquee performances and 6-AAAA Sub-Region titles for both the boys and girls teams.

The boys finished the season with a 9-10 record (6-0 in region), and the girls completed the season with an 8-11 record (5-1 in region).

The Panthers faced some tough competition from some of the top teams in the state while making a name for themselves. Coach Lance Thomas-Davenport said he put together a tough schedule to help the teams get better.

“We’re building a program here and to do that you have to play tough com-petition,” said Thomas-Davenport, who has coached the team for two years.

The teams went up against schools like Westlake, Centennial, North Springs, Athens Christian, Harris County and Lakeside. Thomas-Daven-port said the Panthers didn’t shy away from the competition in 2011.

By playing top-ranked, state-level tennis programs, the boys were able to thrust themselves onto Georgia’s tennis map, he said.

During the third round of the Granger Invitational Tournament in LaGrange on March 12, the boys went stroke for stroke with Athens Christian Academy. Two out of the five matches went to third set tiebreakers. Although Athens Christian won three matches to two, the boys team caught the attention of tournament spectators with its highly

competitive play. The girls team got a significant vic-

tory when it defeated South Gwinnett 3-2 on March 11 in the second round of the Granger Invitational Tournament.

The girls were led by junior Jasmine Riddick, who posted seven singles wins; sophomore Emani Tavares (five singles wins); and freshman Kaylin Roman (five singles wins). The team also featured the doubles pair of seniors Karlysa McGhee and Lindsey Baker (six wins); the pair of senior Ashanti Booker and junior Shawna Wilson (four wins); and the pair of juniors Kinya DaCosta and Imani Smith (four wins).

The boys were led by senior Fred Jackson, who posted six singles wins; junior Kalin Harrison (six singles wins); and junior Spencer Wade (six singles wins). The boys featured a doubles pair of senior Quadarris Kennedy and junior Odell McCree (six wins) and of seniors Horatio Todd and Deion Williams (six wins).

Fred Jackson and Quadarris Ken-nedy are both college prospects.

With 33 of 45 team members re-turning next season, the Panthers ex-pect to make more noise next year.

“We intend to make the stat playoffs next year,” Thomas-Davenport said.


14

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Written comments also are welcome either by email to [email protected] or regular mail sent to Xpress Service Changes, GRTA, 245 Peachtree Center Avenue, NE, Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30303. Comments will also be received by phone by calling Xpress customer service at 404-463-4782.

The formal comment period on the proposed changes ends Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Comments received after that time will be considered for future service adjustments.

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Thursday, May 12 4:00-7:00 p.m. 428 Panola Road P&R

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crossroadsnews, may 7, 2011

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