VOLUME 21 NUMBER 14 FREE JULY 4, 2015

Published Since April 1995Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties www.facebook.com/ocgnews

See Ellis, page 9

Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News

See Dennys, page 9

Ellis Convicted NFL players to open 20 Dennys

By Joshua Smith

Donnell Thompson is changing the face of Dennys. The former Bal-timore (Indianapolis) Colts Defensive End says its a new day at the once troubled franchise, which was sued in a class action discrimination lawsuit in 1994 for mistreating minorities.

Dennys has changed their whole model through the leadership of chairman John Miller and the Heritage theme, which celebrates all people that make up America, said Thompson, whose operations are based in Snellville.

Thompson and Ron Wooten, a friend who played football together in high school and college, have opened 10 Dennys locations in metro Atlanta and the Carolinas so far under the company name RWDT Foods. They plan to open 20 more in the next four years.

We are already in Gainesville, Snellville, Stockbridge and close to opening in Suwanee, Thompson said. We are also looking at Marietta and have started the plans for one in Lithonia. We are really going to build this brand in and around Metro Atlanta.

Thompson and Wooten opened their first Dennys restaurant in 2012 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It was a huge success, Thompson said, largely because of its location near the large Fort Bragg military base. They opened their Snellville Dennys on Jan. 29, 2015.

Weve been opening them up at a rate of about one every 90 days. I love Metro Atlanta and the people here. My wife and I live in Buckhead. I have a daughter here and grandchil-dren here, said Thompson. Weve got a nice little foot hole in Metro At-lanta and we look forward to building on that.

Thompson says their next Den-nys will open in Suwanee in about 80 days. He says full-size stores, which usually range from about 5,000 to 7,000 square feet, usually cost just over $1 million to open.

There are two sides to it, the development part of the business and then the operations part. I am

Rockdale vet gets overdue Purple HeartBy Valerie J. Morgan

Its been 53 years since retired Command Sgt. Maj. Simon Ramos was injured in Viet Nam. Though he served valiantly, the Rockdale County veteran was never recognized for the injuries he received in 1962, due to omissions in his military records. Until now.

Congressman Hank Johnson presented the 83-year old Ramos the Purple Heart medal during a July 1 program that was held at the Walk of Heroes Park in Conyers. As Ramos wife of 62 years, Emily, and several family members looked on, Johnson pinned the long overdue medal on Ramos. Several dignitaries congratulated Ramos including Rockdale Board of Commissioners Chairman Richard Oden, Buddy Roebuck, director of the Walk of Heroes, and Tommy Clack, president of the board of directors for the Walk of Heroes and Deputy Peter Wolfe, who represented Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett.

For some reason, Mr. Ramos military records for his combat wounds and hospitalization were never properly preserved. Sgt. Ramos journey to have his records corrected and to receive his Purple Heart medal began in 2011. Some say that we should not go back to try to right old wrongs, but theres something healthy about being able to go back and correct an injustice, no matter how far back it was, Congressman Johnson said as he honored Ramos.

Johnson said his office was notified four years ago that Ramos had never been honored for his combat injuries and began looking into the matter. Johnson said Ramos

received a letter from the Department of the Armies dated May 12, 2015 notifying him that he finally was recognized and awarded the Purple Heart.

Ramos, who is the father of five sons and one daughter, served his country with distinction for more than 35 years on active duty from 1952 to 1987 in the U.S. Army. He fought in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Ramos was assigned to the Special Forces in Vietnam, where he served as Operations Sergeant. While training Vietnamese rangers

on May 23, 1962 near the Vietnamese town of Katum, Ramos and comrades came in contact with the enemy. As they entered the town, they came under grenade attack. Ramos left arm was seriously injured. He was hospitalized at Walter Reed Hospital near Washington, D.C. for a year. After his discharge in 1963, Ramos rejoined the Special Forces as an instructor.

For more photos of the ceremony, visit the On Common Ground News (Official) Facebook page.

Joshua Smith/OCG News

By Joshua Smith and Valerie J. Morgan

Burrell Ellis arose without a word as deputies escorted him out of the courtroom and off to jail after a jury returned its guilty verdict on July 1, ending six days of deliberation.

Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson is scheduled to sentence him on July 8. It was unclear if Ellis would have to remain in jail until sentencing.

The jury, comprised of six men and six women, found the suspended CEO of DeKalb County guilty on one count of attempted extortion and three counts of perjury. Ellis was found not guilty of five other charges.

Before the verdict was handed down, Ellis wife, Philippa, who was seated behind him, stood and kissed him on the cheek. His mother, Ro-

berta Ellis, sat quietly. Neither of the three showed any emotion as the

Congressman Hank Johnson pins the Purple Heart medal on Command Sgt. Major Simon Ramos.

Burrell Ellis is led out of the courtroom after he was found guilty on four counts.

PAGE 2 JULY 4, 2015 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

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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 newspapers advertisers.

No portion of this newspaper may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. We reserve the right to reject material and advertisements we deem inappropriate.

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See District 5 page 9

Exploring THE GREAT OutdoorsUrban kids

meet Mother Nature

By Joshua Smith

Archery, climbing trees and hiking to the top of Panola Mountain are just some of the activities students of the South DeKalb Family YMCA are experienc-ing in the Arabia Mountain Heritage Alliances free camp this summer.

The program, running June 22 to July 17, is a partnership between Arabia and metro Atlanta-area YM-CAs to expose urban children ages 6-11 to wildlife, horticulture and all things nature. Arabia wants the kids to learn early how to enjoy and preserve surrounding wildlife gems for genera-tions to come.

Each week, about 30 students from a participating YMCA will be a part of the program. The South DeKalb Y kicked off the program, which is being funded by the National Park Service.

This innovative summer camp is so awesome because you take a group of kids who normally may never take the chance to come out and enjoy these hidden treasures which are both historic and natural sites, said Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance Pro-gram Coordinator Melody Harclerode. I am so proud of these students for taking on these new challenges. The entire week they have been well-mannered, inquisitive and just great to be around. They havent complained about the heat, steep mountains or

anything. They take on anything thrown at them and succeed. During the week of summer fun, students participated in

a range of activities. They hiked Arabia Mountain and Panola

Mountain, enjoying popsicles to beat the heat, and they witnessed park rangers repairing an injured owls wings and a possums foot. The children also went canoeing, fishing, and they visited the his-toric Flat Rock Archive Center, a museum dedicated to the preser-vation of the history of Flat Rock, Georgia. The students also learned the importance of preserving their parks by working on a community service project that included clean-ing up the park and helping make trails more visible for others.

My favorite thing to do was the archery. It was fun shooting the arrows and I had a great time getting better at it, said South DeKalb YMCA student Deon King, who is 11 and attends Chapel Hill Middle Schoo in Decatur.

Other participating YMCAs include East Lake, Andrew & Walter Young, and the Arthur M. Blank Family YMCA. The YMCA provided lunch and snacks each day.

We are building memories they will never forget by providing this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Its a shame a lot of our youth today have such a negative view of wildlife and would rather stay inside and play video games all day, said Harclerode. This heri-tage area is deemed by Congress as having historical significance. Only two parks in Georgia have that title. Augusta houses the other one.

We want our youth to bring their family and claim ownership of this.

DeKalbs District 5 Commission runoff candidates square off in forums

By Valerie J. Morgan

With an election thats only days awayJuly 14the two candidates vying for the DeKalb County District 5 Commission seat runoff are squaring off in a fresh round of community forums as they appeal to voters.

Mereda Davis Johnson and George Turner participated in a forum on June 29, fielding questions from those who came to Salem Bible Church, 5460 Hillandale Drive, in Lithonia. About 100 people attended the Community Conversation, which was sponsored by the Greater Lithonia Cham-ber of Commerce, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.; DeKalb Section National Council of Negro Women; Zeta Phi Beta, Inc.; Alpha Kappa Alpha; Kappa Alpha Psi; East Metro Or-chids; and the National Womens Political Caucus of Georgia. Lyle V. Harris, a long-time journalist who lives in District, served as moderator.

The candidates had participated in at least 10 forums the first time that they ran in June.

Candidates are scheduled for at least three more forums before the runoff.

The South DeKalb Parent Council plans to present a candidates forum at the Brooks Mill Subdivision Clubhouse on Tuesday, July 7, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., 4009 Brooks Mill Drive, Lithonia. Organizers are asking those who plan to attend to RSVP to ensure the clubhouse will have room for everyone. The meeting will be moved to the Salem Library, if more room is needed. Check the Facebook Pages for the South DeKalb Par-ent Council or On Common Ground News (Official) for updates or call 678-526-1910.

A candidates forum is scheduled July 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Fairfield Baptist Church, 6133 Redan Road, Lithonia. The forum will be hosted by Fairfield Baptist

Church, Georgia STAND UP, Metro Atlanta CBTU Chapter, Voter Empowerment Col-

Photos by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News Mereda Davis Johnson

George Turner

Photos by Joshua Smith/OCG News Kids from South DeKalb County enjoyed several outdoor activities as a part of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliances free summer camp.

PAGE 4 JULY 4 2015 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

Coming Up

City invites all to explore natural beauty of the beltline

The City of Atlanta will host free tours of its 22-mile beltline throughout the month of July. Starting on Friday, July 3, the 10 a.m. tours offer a look at unique artwork, trees and other natural beauties as you walk, skate or bike.

City officials say this one-of-a-kind linear expanse forms a unique tapestry whose natural fabric reveals a plant-based narrative of the citys rich history. The walking tours are guided by Trees Atlanta docents. They are considered experts on trees and other forms of horticulture.

These walking tours explore the Eastside Trail, which is a combination of multi-use trail and linear green space. A walking tour of the Atlanta BeltLine is the best way to see the progress and be active at the same time.

Tour groups meet Fridays and Saturdays behind Parish Restaurant, located at 240 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta in Inman Park. Tour guides may have participants meet at 9 a.m. on certain days when temperatures are expected to be hotter. Com-fortable shoes, drinking water, bug spray and sunscreen are highly recommended.

Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Kate Baltzell at 404-681-4897 or kateb@treesatlanta.org.

ATLANTA

First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta sets ArtSpark

The Atlanta Arts Council and First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta (FPC), 1328 Peachtree St., N.E., Atlanta, is hosting a week of activities at the church to promote art interest in the community.

ArtSpark, a summertime celebration of the creative arts, is designed to cel-ebrate and explore the gifts of creativity. This is an opportunity to grow your faith through music and the arts by discovering new and inspiring ways to enrich your spiritual and cultural life. Gifted members of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta will lead the classes, which will include offerings for both adults and children. In addition to the music, creative writing, and the visual arts, there will be concerts by ArtSpark participants, open mic opportunities, an artist demonstration by FPCs own Holly Henson. All offerings are free of charge.

Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, contact at Katherine Hamer at 404-228-7732 or khamer@firstpresatl.org.

DEKALB.

Stonecrest branch registering teens for Cosplay Competition

The DeKalb County Public Library Systems Stonecrest branch, 3123 Klon-dike Road, Lithonia is registering youths ages 10 17 to take part in the Teen Cosplay Competition on Saturday, July 25, 2 3 p.m., in the branchs auditorium.

This will be a celebration of anime and will feature different costumes and characters from comics, cartoons and other shows. Show off your Cosplay skills in a friendly competition that includes chances to win prizes or join in the audience and enjoy the display of teen Cosplay talent. Competition is open to the first 30 participants. Audience is limited to 155.

If you wish to compete, check dekalblibrary.org/cosplay for rules and more information. Contestants must arrive by 1 p.m. on July 25 for pre-judging.

Funding provided by Anime Weekend Atlanta, Epic Cosplay, and the Friends of the Stonecrest, Stone Mountain and Hairston Crossing libraries. 770-482-3828.

cs and Aquatics Recreation Program Manager, at (404)371-6270.

School System hosts summer job fair The DeKalb County School System will host a summer job fair on Wednesday,

July 8, 9 a.m. 1 p.m., at its headquarters, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain.

With the theme, World Class District Seeking World Class Teachers, the job fair offers positions to teachers in a school system that educates nearly 100,000 students at 143 schools. The system currently houses about 13,000 full-time employees. Potential job hires should bring copies of their resume, transcripts, teaching certificate and GACE scores.

Interested applicants should apply online at www.pats.dekalb.k12.ga.us/re-cruit. 678-676-0092

GWINNETT

Parks and Rec set Walk the Talks with health professionals

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation will host Walk the Talks this month at parks throughout the county.

The free informative walks are led by local health and wellness professionals to talk about benefits of walking and staying active, as well as healthy ways to beat the summer heat. You can also ask questions on issues concerning your family or neighborhood. The walks are hosted at an easy and enjoyable pace.

Walk the Talk schedule is as follows: July 11, 9 a.m., at Shorty Howell Park, 2750 Pleasant Hill Rd., Duluth; July 16, 6 p.m., at Vines Park, 3500 Oak Grove Rd., Loganville; July 25, 9 a.m., at Little Mulberry Park, 3800 Hog Moun-tain Rd., Dacula; and on July 30, 6 p.m., at Bay Creek Park, 175 Ozora Rd., Loganville.

The walks will also promote an appreciation for nature and exercising, social-izing and having fun. The programs theme is Out is In and encourages people to try to do something out of the ordinary than what they usually do at the parks.

Music and Scoops in Lawrenceville

Gwinnett County will host Music and Scoops in Lawrenceville on Friday, July 17, 5:30 p.m., at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 Crogan Street, Law-renceville.

A kids zone will be available for children to enjoy activities. Ice cream and other food concessions will be available for purchase or you can bring your own picnic. Free entertainment begins at the gazebo at 7 p.m. and features live music from Havana Son.

Havana Son brings a Latin tropical paradise to the county. Cuban native Rene Herrera, who is a composer and recording artist, created the group. The group uses piano, vocals, guitars and a Tres (a traditional Cuban stringed instru-ment). The group will entertain attendees with salsa, merengue, son, cha cha, boleros, bachata, vallenato and cumbia music.

ROCKDALE

Free outdoor screening offers family fun

The Conyers Main Street Foundation will hosts a free outdoor movie screen-ing for the entire family to enjoy on Saturday, July 11, 8 10:30 p.m., at the Olde Town Pavilion, 949 South Main Street, Conyers.

The movie to be featured is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. The 2014 American comedy stars Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, and Ed Oxenbould.

The film follows the exploits of Alexander Cooper, an ordinary 11-year-old boy and his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He is left out by his fami-ly; his older brother, Anthony, his older sister, Emily, his mother, Kelly his father, Ben and his baby brother, Trevor. The day before Alexanders twelfth birthday, he wakes up and finds gum in his hair and clips it off with a pair of scissors. The day goes down hill in a comedy adventure from here.

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and arrive early for prime seating! The movie begins at dark. 770-602-2606.

North Georgia Live Streamers train rides in Conyers

The North Georgia Live Steamers (NGLS) will host train rides for the community to enjoy on Saturday, July 11, 1 4:30 p.m., at the Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers.

NGLS is an incorporated non-profit miniature outdoor railroad club operating miniature trains on more than two miles of track. The club has constructed a real-life miniature train city with several different designs of steam trains you can ride. The train site is located inside the horse park next to the steeplechase field.

The cost to ride is $2 per person. Run days may be canceled due to inclement weather. Visit www.northgeorgialivesteamers.org or www.geor-giahorsepark.com for more information. The rides will also be offered on Saturday, Aug. 15.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS JULY 4, 2015 PAGE 5

Chorale II community choir looking for a few good voices Chorale II community choir in

DeKalb County is recruiting for its 2015-2016 season. The choir wants passionate singers who are eager to entertain and have fun.

The choir currently has 65 mem-bers and is under the direction of James McRaney.

Chorale II welcomes all voice parts, especially tenor and 2nd (low) bass. Re-hearsals are held every other Thursday at Briarlake Baptist Church, 3175 LaVista Road, Decatur.

If you would like to try your voice in the choir, you can email McRaney at

jmcraney@aol.com. You can also try out at upcoming 7 p.m. rehearsals on Aug. 27, Sept. 3 and Sept. 17, as well as Oct. 1 and Oct. 15.

As a member of the chorus, I am very happy with the varied selections and themes of each concert, said chorus tenor Jack Sartain. The accompanists are terrific, the musical instruction by Dr. McRaney is most professional and the concerts are very musically satisfying. Members are friendly and have the same goalto make beautiful music.

McDonough sculptor to create Capitols MLK statue

McDonough sculptor Andy Davis has been selected to create the statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. to stand on the Geor-gia Capitol grounds, Gov. Nathan Deal announced. Davis works include music legend Ray Charles, the Georgia Police Memorial, Chick-Fil-A founder Truett Cathy, Griffin County founder Gen. Law-rence Griffin and Patrick Henry.

The sculpture of the civil rights lead-er will be placed on the northeast quad-rant of the Capitol grounds overlooking Liberty Plaza.

Deal tapped State Rep. Calvin Smyre (Columbus), dean of the Geor-gia General Assembly, earlier this year to head up the effort and act as liaison between the state, the King Estate, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council and the Georgia Arts Standards Commis-sion.

Placing a statue of Dr. King at the Capitol of his home state is a long over-due honor, and selecting an artist is an important step forward in this process, Deal said. I am confident that Andy

Davis past works, including a statue of Ray Charles in the singers hometown of Albany, have prepared him well for this historic project. I commend Rep. Smyre for his diligent efforts and leadership on this project and I look forward to seeing the final work of art.

Officials of the King Estate ex-pressed gratitude for the project moving forward.

We believe the sculpture should capture the essence of Dr. Kings leg-acy as a civil rights leader, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a husband, father and a Georgian, the King Estate said in a statement.

We also are grateful for Gov. Deal, Rep. Smyre and the other stakeholders who have worked to ensure this memorial appropriately honors Dr. King, a native son of Georgia who left his state, his nation and his world a better place.

Smyre said he was honored to play a role in the historic event.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired our nation with his dream of hope, peace, justice, and human rights. I am honored to have played a role during the 2014 Legislative Session in passing House Bill 1080, which authorized the placement of a Capitol-grounds statue honoring Dr. King and was signed into law by Gov. Deal, said Smyre. It is now time for us as a state to make this a reality. Naming Andy Davis as the sculptor is the first step in that process. It was important that a Georgia sculptor be chosen for this his-toric project. I look forward to working with all the stakeholders as we undertake the statues design, likeness and private fundraising efforts.

Davis began his career as a full-time sculptor in 1999. He works from the Andy Davis Studio in the Hood Street Arts Center in McDonough, where he lives with his wife, Gerri. They have two children.

DeKalbs new schools chief R. Stephen Green sworn in

In a packed courtroom of family members, former and current school board members and other supporters, DeKalb County Schools new chief, R. Stephen Green, was sworn in by Superior Court Judge Gregory Adams on July 1.

Green was hired in June after the DeKalb Board of Education conducted a nationwide search and named him as its sole finalist. Green will earn $275,000 a year.

I am honored to serve the Board of Education and the citizens of DeKalb County in this important role, but I am even more honored and excited to serve the 100,000 students of the DeKalb County School District, said Green, who was also accompanied by his wife, Kimberly, and his adult children and grandchildren. Our focus from today forward will be on meeting the academic needs and goals of our schoolchildren, and ensuring that we are maximizing all of our communitys resources to achieve the best results on our students behalf.

School Board Chairman Melvin Johnson said he is looking forward to working with Green.

We have in Dr. Green a seasoned professional who has stabilized troubled school districts and knows the steps we must take to propel the district forward, said Johnson. Dr. Green will have the full support of the board and the community in moving our district forward.

PAGE 6 JULY 4, 2015 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

Rockdales Ag Day brings furry friends to many

The Rockdale County Extension Office welcomed hundreds of adults and children to its annual Agriculture and Natural Resources Day.

The free event, which was held on June 30, featured several booths and demonstrators sharing information on topics ranging from the importance of water in the community to the various insects that live in and around the garden.

Ag Day provided a great opportunity for kids to check out and even pet farm animals such as goats, chickens, pigs, rabbits and even a cow. Those who attended also munched on free snacks including whole grain chips and black bean dip salsa, watermelon and blueberries provided by the Rockdale County School Nutrition Program.

Jule-Lynn Macie, program development coordinator for the Extension Services Northwest District, brought her collection of insects as well for petting and exploring.

There were also big, tractors for kids to see, touch and pretend to ride. The Rockdale County Farmers Market also sold fruits, vegetables and other fresh goodies.For more photos, visit On Common Groud News (official)FB.

Text and Photos by Joshua Smith

Like Us On Facebook: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS JULY 4, 2015 PAGE 7

Advertise in the Marketplace.Call On Common Ground News 678-526-1910

Wal-Mart, Rockdale Sheriffs Office partner to help animal shelter

The Rockdale County Sheriffs Office recently delivered 11 bags of dog food to Rockdale County Animal Control. The Snellville Wal-Mart (store #3389) donated the food to the shelter.

The Snellville Wal-Mart has always been a great supporter of not only the RCSO, but also the entire community, said Sheriff Eric J. Levett, who personally helped to deliver the food to the shelter. When I received the phone call about the donation of the dog food, I knew it would be a great benefit to Animal Control. Animal Control and the Sheriffs Office

often respond to calls together, and it is always great when we can partner and support each other to the benefit of Rockdale County.

Shelter Manager Ciji Baker said the shelter appreciates the donation.

Summer is always one of RCACCs busiest times for picking up stray animals, and as you can imagine, there is a need for cat and dog food to feed these strays, said Baker. We sincerely appreciate any food donated to meet the needs required to feed them.

ABL welcomes V-103s Ryan Cameron

The Atlanta Business League (ABL) will welcome V-103 person-ality and Atlanta Hawks announcer

Ryan Cameron on Tuesday, July 14, 5:30- 7:30 p.m., at the Turner Field 755 Club Plaza, 755 Hank Aaron Drive, S.W., Atlanta.

ABL is a membership-based organization focused on the growth and development of African-Amer-ican business owners and profes-sionals in metro Atlanta.

Join me along with successful ABL business owners and profes-sionals as we gather in a relaxed at-mosphere to learn how the League can help our businesses grow and prosper, said Cameron.

Attendees can meet and net-work with ABL leaders and mem-bers, visit expo tables and enjoy hot hors doeuvres. The Atlanta Braves and Aramark are sponsor-ing the event.

The event is free. Register online at http://www.cvent.com or www.atlantabusinessleague.org. 404-584-6206.

DeKalb Workforce extends recruitment for youth work program

DeKalb Workforce Development (DWD) has extended its recruitment for the Summer Youth Employment Training Program(SYETP).

DWD has about 50 slots remaining for the summer program, which began on June 1, and will end on Sept. 11. Youths may work up to 32 hours per week over an eight-week period. Through partnerships with more than 50 public and private sector work sites, 250 youths will receive occupational training to help gain and develop professional skills. The jobs range from clerical and maintenance to technology-based assignments.

During the academic school

year, DWD prepares youths for summer employment through work readiness workshops that include mock interviews, electronic application completion, resume writing, and work place ethics. DWD also mentors youth enrolled in the Year-Round Program to become self-sufficient by offering life skills workshops designed to build competency in real world expectations.

For more information or to become involved in the Workforce Investment Act - Youth Program, contact Latanya Lowery at llowery@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-371-3038.

Business News

City of Atlanta named Best and Brightest Large Employer

The City of Atlanta has again been named one of Best and Brightest Com-panies to Work For by the National Asso-ciation for Business Resources (NABR).

For the fourth year in a row, the NABR has recognized the City of Atlan-tas commitment to employ a best-in-class workforce committed to the ongoing success of the city and a high level of customer service, said Mayor Kasim Reed. During my administration, the City of Atlanta has raised the minimum wage for employees, launched a study of pay disparities for women, and has earned recognition as a top employer for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgen-der and queer) workers. I am proud that our efforts and our employees are again celebrated for their accomplishments.

For the ranking, an independent research firm evaluated the City of Atlanta based on various categories including Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, En-gagement and Retention; Employee Ed-

ucation and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Commu-nication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; and Com-munity Initiatives and Strategic Company Performance.

The City of Atlanta has created impressive organizational value and business results through their policies and best practices in human resource manage-ment, said Jennifer Kluge, president and CEO of NABR. This award has become a designation sought after by hundreds of metro Atlanta area companies and is a powerful recruitment tool in the drive to attract and retain exceptional employees.

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For is a program of the National Association for Business Resources that provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work.

Joshua Smith/OCG News

PAGE 8 JULY 4, 2015 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

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DeKalb Lawyers Association mentors 1,100 students

The DeKalb Law-yers Association (DLA) mentored 1,100 DeKalb County School students through its If You Can See It, You Can Be It leadership program. The program exposes students of color to lawyers of colors who encourage them pursue careers in the legal field.

Attorney Mawuli Davis, president of the African American law-yers group, said he set a goal of reaching 500 stu-dents to mentor, but the organization far surpassed the numbersomething hes excited about.

I am proud of our membership for working hard to reach the young people in our community. It makes a difference when students see people like them in positions they aspire to attain, said Davis. The expansion of this program, to include the Fall and Spring sessions, will undergird our theme for the 2015-2016 calendar year of Black Lawyers Matter.

Attorney Candice McKinley, a DLA board member and attorney at the Davis Bozeman Law Firm in Decatur, organized the group who visited four DeKalb schoolsMur-phy Candler Elementary, Tony Ele-mentary, Kelly lake Elementary and Stephenson Middle.

As an attorney, this is what we are meant to do, McKinley said.

We are charged with training up

the next generation of social advocates. We want to reach over 2,000 students in the 2015-2016 school year. We will host a week in the Fall and Spring.

The If You Can See It, You Can Be It pro-gram provides interactive teaching materials that were designed by Deca-tur-based educator

Jana Johnson-Davis.The 12 DLA members who

participated in this school years program were Charles W. Simmons, DeNorris Heard, Joyce Neal, Latasha Barnes, Miya Y. Griggs, Regina J. Matthews, Roodgine Bray, Ashley Lewis, Jacqueline Johnson, Robert Bozeman, Mawuli Davis and Candice McKinley.

The DeKalb Lawyers Associa-tion was formed in DeKalb County in 1984 to promote the growth and development of African American attorneys and to strengthen the social and economic fiber of our communi-ty.

E-mail cmckinley@davisboz-emanlaw.com for your school to participate in If You Can See It, You Can Be It for the upcoming school year or to serve as a volunteer attor-ney.

Attorney Mawuli Davis

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS JULY 4,2015 PAGE 9

on both sides of the business, said Thompson. Im lucky and blessed to have experience on both sides of the business and Ill continue to use my experience to aid my business partner and great friend as we continue to grow this brand.

Thompson says he enjoys repre-senting the new face of Dennys as a black owner and operator.

Dennys is stronger than its ever been. Im proud and excited to grow the brand here. We have changed the whole persona of the Dennys brand. When you come into the Dennys restaurants now its a whole new look and feel, said Thompson. People are often sur-prised to know that I am the owner of a Dennys but I enjoy surprising them and making new and returning customers out of them.

In 1994, the full-service pancake house and casual family restaurant chain settled a $54 million discrimi-nation lawsuit for providing inferior service to minorities, especially black people. The class action lawsuit made history and publicized stories of black customers being forced to pay up front and wait for hours while white customers were seated imme-diately.

Since the historic settlement, Dennys improved its service and image. In 2001, Fortune magazine named Dennys the Best Compa-ny for Minorities and in 2006 and 2007, Dennys was deemed one of Black Enterprises Best 40 Compa-nies for Diversity. Dennys has more than 1,700 franchised, licensed or company-owned restaurants globally.

Thompson says stocks and profits with Dennys are doing extreme-ly well, especially in the last three years.

Thompson says he looks forward to offering customers great prices through specials like Dennys $2 $4 $6 $8 value menu.

We have something for every-one from seniors to kids. We love to feed people. We want people no matter who they are to have a great experience and come back and see us again and again. I guarantee when you come into one of our stores you will leave with a whole new thinking of Dennys, said Thompson, adding that the chain prides itself on restau-rants that are clean inside and out and its great service. Come as you are and enjoy some great food and even better service.

Dennyscontinued from page 1

Donnell Thompson

laborative and the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce.The DeKalb NAACP has said it will host a forum, but no date had been set as of

the newspapers deadline. The information will be published as soon as On Common Ground News is notified.

District 5 continued from page 3

charges were read. The verdict came around 10:30 a.m., about 90 minutes after the jury deliberated that morn-ing.

District Attorney Robert James did not comment on the verdict. He said he could not discuss the case until after sentencing due to a gag order.

Ellis team of attorneys, led by Craig Gillen, also did not comment because of the gag order.

DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May issued a statement:

I encourage everyone to join me in keeping the Ellis family in our thoughts and prayers. I wish them strength in the days and months ahead.

Mr. Ellis remains under suspension during any appeal until the final disposition of his case or the ex-piration of his term of office, which-ever comes first. While the suspen-sion is in effect, I remain as Interim Chief Executive Officer. As Interim CEO, I will continue to stay focused on moving the county forward.

Viola Davis, who heads the Unhappy Taxpayers watchdog group in DeKalb, also issued a statement:

We have a long history of working with people who believe in Burrell Ellis innocence on one hand, and his quilt on another. However, we live in a country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

Today, 12 women and men on the jury have spoken to say that Bur-rell Ellis is guilty of extortion and per-jury. We respect the jurys decision.

We continue to demand full RICO investigations and criminal forensic audits to restore the publics trust, transparency, ethics and accountabili-ty in DeKalb County government

Ellis was indicted in 2013 for extorting campaign contributions from county vendors and drying up contracts with vendors who refused to make a donation to his 2012 bid for re-election. Ellis was elected as CEO in 2008 and won a second term four years later. District Attorney James said county vendors lost as much as $250,000 in contracts for not giving to Ellis campaign.

The three perjury counts carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years. The attempt to commit theft by extortion count carries a maximum sentence of up to five years.

Defense attorneys unrelated to the case said they speculate that Ellis will appeal.

Not only does he (Ellis) face prison time but he also faces not being a lawyer anymore because he is convicted of a felony. He can either surrender his license or the state bar will initiate disbarment proceedings,

said Defense Attorney Jackie Pat-terson. The jury sent the message that as a public official and even as a lawyer, you can never be untruthful in a courtroom proceeding.

Even County Attorney O.V. Brantley said she anticipates Ellis will appeal. In a July 1 memo to May and the Board of Commissioners, Brantley said the conviction means that Ellis salary stops effective immediately. She wrote: I thought it prudent to re-mind you of the consequences of this conviction. After initial conviction, Mr. Ellis remains under suspension during any appeal, until final dispo-sition of his case or the expiration of his term of office, whichever comes first. However, after initial conviction by the trial court, O.C.G.A. Section 45-5-6 ( c) provides that Mr. Ellis shall not be entitled to receive com-pensation from his office. If Mr. Ellis is subsequently reinstated to office, he shall be entitled to receive any com-pensation withheld under this law. I would anticipate an appeal but will keep you apprised of developments in that regard.

The CEOs salary is about $153,000 annually.

Ellis first trial ended in a mistrial in October 2014 when an all-female jury failed to reach a unanimous ver-dict after nearly two weeks of deliber-ations.

Throughout the re-trial, Ellis attorneys repeatedly told jurors the state offered no evidence of criminal activity. Gillen insisted the states key witness, former purchasing director Kelvin Walton, was a serial perjurer used by the state to fill in the holes in their case.

The three perjury charges Ellis was found guilty of stem from a spe-cial 2013 grand jury trial where Ellis repeatedly stated under oath that he wasnt involved in county contracting and would never cancel a companys county contract for not contributing to his campaign.

Kellie Hill, the former assistant to the district attorney, asked Ellis the questions he perjured in that grand jury trial and said she was not sur-prised by Ellis conviction.

When I asked a question and I received an answer, I had an idea about whether or not it was a truthful answer, but the jury has spoken and justice has been served. Its all about justice, said Hill, who now has her own consulting firm. Obviously, there was enough substantial evidence in this case to lead to a conviction. The jurys verdict says business as usual in DeKalb County will no lon-ger stand.

Ellis continued from page 1

Heres how the candidates responded to some of the issues presented on June 29: Should DeKalb County change its form of government to one run by county

manager instead of an elected CEO?

Johnson: No. Its not the form of government that makes the difference. Its the people who govern that makes the difference.

Turner: No. Its the people who are attracted to the position. Its not always best to change for changes sake.

Do you support county purchasing cards for county employees and commis-sioners?

Johnson: No.

Turner: No.

How will you balance your time on the board with your jobs?

Johnson: She said she has law partners and staff to delegate duties at work. She said she is excellent at time management and pledged to vigorously engage and repre-sent the community, if she is elected.

Turner: He said although he is busy as a retiree in serving on various boards in the community, he would readjust his schedule to serve full time as a commissioner.

What is your position on the Georgia Department of Labor closing its offices in South DeKalb?

Johnson: She said she would work very hard to get it re-opened in District 5. She said she believes it was insensitive to close the office where so many people need jobs and utilize its services.

Turner: He said he would work to put pressure on state officials to get the offices re-opened in South DeKalb. He said he is very concerned that people lack access to computers and the internet and now have to travel outside the district for help.

District Attorney Robert James Burrell Ellis mother, Roberta Ellis, sits quietly while she awaits the verdict for her son.

PAGE 10 JULY 4 2015 WWW.OCGNEWS.COMTO CONTACT USBY PHONE: 678-526-1910BY FAX: 678-526-1909BY E-MAIL: EDITOR@OCGNEWS.COMVISIT ONLINE: WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

People Movers & Shakers in the CommunityGPTC adjunct instructor named Optician of the Year

Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) adjunct instructor Thomas Blair, Jr. has been named the 2015 Ophthalmic Optician of the Year.

The Ophthalmic Optician of the Year is presented annually by the Soci-ety to Advance Opticianry.

Thomas Blairs selection as the 2015 Ophthalmic Optician of the Year underscores the extremely high quality instructors we have here, said GPTC President Jabari Simama. Our students have access to leading practitioners who bring a wealth of real world experience to the classroom.

Blair was chosen for this award based on his high level of service to the profession. He will be recognized for his achievement at the OptiCon 2015 National Conference, scheduled Sept. 25-27 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville.

I am appreciative of the oppor-tunity to share this honor with GPTC and with my students, in hopes that it may serve as an inspiration for them to achieve, Blair said.

Blair has served as an adjunct instructor in the Opticianry Program at Georgia Piedmont since January 2015. A longtime member of the Opticians

Association of Georgia, he is a former vice chairman of the Georgia State Board of Dispensing Opticians and the Commission on Opticianry Accredita-tion. In 2008, he was designated as an Ambassador of the Year by the Na-tional Academy of Opticianry. Blair has been a credentialed optician for more than 40 years.

The Society to Advance Opticianry is a credentialing organization that pro-motes higher education and certification levels for opticians. It also provides mentoring services to its candidate members. Thomas Blair

Driver Services Commissioner welcomes board member Rachel B. Little

Commissioner Rob Mikell, Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS), is pleased to announce the appointment of the newest board member by Gov. Nathan Deal. Gwinnett County resident Rachel B. Little will assume her new role at the agencys July board meeting.

I believe Rachels unique perspective and expertise will serve us well on the Board, and I look forward to working with her on many DDS initiatives, said Mikell.

Little works in the legal department of the U.S. headquarters for Merial, Inc., a global animal health company. She has over 18 years experience with international law firms and in-house legal departments.

I am humbled by the confidence and trust that Governor Deal has placed in me with this appointment to the Board of Driver Services. What a privilege to serve our great state in this capacity, said Little.

Little is a graduate of Leadership Gwinnett and currently serves on the Citizens Advisory Board for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. Little earned a bachelors degree in Political Science from Georgia State University. She and her husband, Bill, reside in Loganville.

South DeKalb Rotary Club installs 2015-16 officers, receives

top honors

The South DeKalb Rotary Club has installed its 2015-2016 lead-ers, naming Jennifer Friday as president and Ceasar Gaiters as its president-elect. Friday, a college professor and owner of a consulting firm, will take

the reigns from Patricia Seals, who served with distinction. Gaiters, who is owner of Suite 20 Day Salon in Decatur, will become president June 2016. The leadership roles are for one year.

The organizations outgoing District Gov. Alicia Michaels and Can-dace Klein, its assistant director governor, performed the installations on June 26.

In addition to Friday and Gaiters, the group swore in the following officers:

Watiki Hardeman SecretaryAl Lockhart - MembershipWilliam A. Murrain TreasurerWillie Hinton Sergeant-at-ArmsJennifer Ffrench-Parker Public RelationsLeaders said the installation was especially significant because the

group received several accolades including being honored for its 100 percent member participation in the National Rotary Foundations giv-ing initiative.and it was named a Paul Harris Fellow in in honor of the founder because 100 percent of its members contributed $1,000 to the Rotary Club.

The South DeKalb Rotary Club is the only all African-American Rotary Club in the Eastern United States. The Rotary Club is one of the worlds first service organizations. During its 100-plus year history, the Rotary Club has led many service projects to make the world a better place including the fight against polio with a project to immunize 6 mil-lion children in the Philippines.

Ceasar Gaiters and Jennifer Friday

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