CrossRoadsNews, April 2, 2011

after hearing directly from them.“I felt more comfortable,” he said. “I went from being

underwhelmed when I first heard they were from small districts, to feeling better when I read their resumes. I

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

In 2001 when the Georgia DOT proposed widening Snapfinger Road between Wesley Chapel Road and Flat Shoals Parkway, resi-dents of the quiet Snapfinger Lake subdivi-sion were never for it.

They turned out in droves at public hear-ings to tell state and DeKalb County officials that the $10.1 million road-widening project would encourage speeding and that the pro-posed divided highway with a grassy median would not be properly maintained, just like the median on Flat Shoals Parkway.

Today, that’s the least of their problems.The four-lane highway that has been

under construction since February 2009 now threatens their property values, their safety and the curb appeal of their neighborhood because of an illegal access road that is be-ing built to connect the neighboring Wilson Welding factory through their subdivision.

The road, which was not part of the original project that went through the public hearing process, violates DeKalb’s codes by eliminating the required 50-foot buffer be-tween industrial and residential properties and contravenes state and federal operating procedures that require public input.

Larry Anderson, a 22-year resident of the sub-division, said that over and above everything, the access road that was “sneaked in” on residents is illegal.

“It was done in viola-tion of county ordinance and in violation of Geor-gia policy,” said Anderson, a retired IRS at-torney. “County ordinance requires a buffer between residential and business properties. This road takes that away.”

P.J. Lemuel, who bought her three-bedroom/two-bath house on Wesley Way six

www.crossroadsnews.comApril 2, 2011Copyright © 2011 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COVER PAGELegal eaglesYOUTH

First they walked the halls of Southwest DeKalb High School. Then off to college. These days, they are in law school in North Carolina. 8

Dozens of eager volunteers answered the call this week to be ambas-sadors for the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center. 9

Outpouring of volunteersSCENE

These biking buddies are racking up the miles on the Arabia Mountain trails, cycling their way to fitness and honoring an old friend. 6

Pedaling to fitnessWELLNESS

Volume 16, Number 49

Illegal Road Is ‘a ToTal TRavesTy’Snapfinger Lake dispute attracts federal attention

Residents of Snapfinger Lake subdivision off Snapfinger Road are upset that an access road to be used by tractor-trailers is being built into their subdivision.

Realignment of the entrance to Snapfinger Lake and the Wilson Welding access road violate the required buffer between manufacturing and residential zones.

Curtis Parker / CrossroadsNews

Superintendent finalists impressive despite small districts

P.J. Lemuel

Larry Anderson

Curtis Parker / CrossroadsNews

Please see SNAPFINGER, page 2

years ago, said the county has violated the rights of the subdivision’s 105 homeowners.

“Somehow they had a handshake deal in five days to do this,” she said, pointing to the road and tractors on Tuesday. “They have treated us less

than you treat chattel.” Her neighbor Beverly Martin, who has

lived in Snapfinger Lake for 10 years, calls the access road “an injustice.”

“It is going to bring down our prop-erty values and it’s going to be very dan-gerous,” Martin said. “Whenever you have 18 -wheelers on a residential street, there is no way you are going to be safe. Our lives will be in danger.”

How the road came aboutTranscripts of e-mails between the De-

partment of Transportation and DeKalb County officials – obtained by the residents in an Open Records request – show how the access road was created within a five-day period in September 2007 to get Jack Wilson,

By Carla Parker

Parents, teachers, school employees, business leaders and other stakeholders got a good look at the three final-ists seeking to be DeKalb’s next School Superintendent and seemed impressed with the pool.

Dr. Gloria Davis, superintendent of Decatur, Ill., Public Schools; Dr. Lillie Cox, superintendent of Hickory, N.C., Public Schools; and Arthur Culver, superintendent of Champaign, Ill., fielded the same 20 questions from the audience and left firm impressions of who could grapple successfully with DeKalb’s myriad problems.

Ernest Brown, who has three children in the school system, said he felt better about the pool of candidates Please see FINALISTS, page 6

felt a lot better when I heard from them.”Brown said all had strengths and weaknesses.“This is a challenging opportunity for any superintendent,” he

said, ticking off DeKalb’s issues with SACs, the Heery Mitcheel law suit, redistricting and schools not making AYP. “This will not be an easy job.”

Brown said he was impressed the most by Cox.“She had some large school district experience and has worked

in a lot of functional areas,” he said. “She came across as teacher-friendly in terms of winning back the rank and file.”

David Shutten, president of the Organization of DeKalb Educa-tors, said he would be comfortable if the board picks Culver.

Lillie Cox Arthur Culver Gloria Davis

2

Inside-Cvr Pg

Community “DeKalb statutes make this a crime punishable by imprisonment and a $1,000-a-day fine for every day that this road exists. Is the county above its own laws?”

‘Cut-through’ road raises concerns on safety, property values

JeNNifer ffreNCh Parker / CrossroadsNews

Residents first learned of plans for the Wilson Welding access road at a community meeting in 2009, but say their efforts to find out who authorized the road have been ignored.

owner of Wilson Welding, to finalize rights of way acquisition with the DOT.

The flurry of e-mails between Sept. 18 and Sept. 25, 2007, began with a noon mes-sage from Victor Weaver, a DOT right-of-way specialist, telling DOT’s Theresa Holder that in follow-up negotiation with property owner Jack Wilson, “he still wants a median break to accommodate his very active, long-established welding business on parcel 22. Tractor-trailers frequently enter and exit his business.”

Weaver went on to say that Wilson was flexible where a median break might occur along his parcel.

“If a median break is not approved, do you think we could have a driveway entrance on Snapfinger Lake Dr.? Let me know what you think …,” he wrote.

At 11:57 a.m. on Sept. 19, Holder shoots a question to Taylor P. Wright of PBSJ:

“Will the county permit a commercial driveway on Relocated Snapfinger Lake Drive for parcel 22?” she asked.

At 12:25 p.m. that same day, Wright sends an e-mail to Beth Ann Marks of LPA asking her to “sketch a rough driveway location and send me a pdf.”

The request confuses Marks: “Parcel 22 is not located across from the intersection but next to it so I am confused as to where to attempt to locate a driveway,” she wrote on Sept. 21.

Wright’s response: “I assume they are asking for a new drive to line up opposite of Snapfinger Lake. Can you sketch that and I will send to Theresa for confirmation?

Later that same day, Wright e-mails right-of-way specialist Weaver to tell him that he is going to run this issue by the county on Monday “to see if they have any problems with the driveway.”

“I understand why they are asking for this,” he said.

Deal OK’dWeaver got the answer to his original

Sept. 18 question in an 8:29 a.m. e-mail on Sept. 25 from PBSJ Corp.’s Wright:

He wrote: “Victor, I discussed this with DeKalb County yesterday. The County will agree to this drive because neither Snapfinger Lake Drive nor Snapfinger Court provide the opportunity to encourage ‘cut-through’ traffic. The County believes that this is an acceptable stipulation if the owner agrees to settle.

“I have copied Beth Ann of LPA on this message so that she can know to proceed with the revision when you have given word that the property owner has signed the op-tion.”

DOT’s Holder and a Patrece Keeter were also copied on that message.

At the minimum, Anderson said the county and DOT were required by law to discuss the change to the road-widening plan with residents.

“There was never a plan that showed that access road,” Anderson said. “We had been to meetings about that project for 10 years. But the first time we found out about the access road was at Stan Watson’s community meeting at Piney Grove Church in the spring of 2009.”

Since that April 4, 2009, meeting, resi-dents have tried to talk to county and DOT officials about the change in the project.

Their first meeting, arranged by new DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson, took place on March 28, 2011, after the residents had sent letters to the media highlighting their problem and after work crews had cut the offending access road and installed concrete curbs.

Residents show a paper trail of letters, e-mails and voice-mails that document their efforts to get answers from someone.

Watson, who was a state representative when he hosted the meeting at which DOT showed the map of the project with the ac-cess road, said Thursday that the dispute “just kinda fell in my lap as the new com-missioner.”

He became the District 7 commissioner in January. He said he called the meeting with DOT and county officials, five representa-tives from the subdivision, and Jack Wilson on Monday.

“I am just wanting to find out what hap-pened, how it got past everyone and what can we do now to make the community whole again,” he said.

At Monday’s meeting, the county offered

to plant trees and erect a gate at the access road, but the residents said they are having none of that.

“Are they saying it’s OK for 18-wheeler trucks to come through our neighborhood?” asked Anderson, the designated spokesman for the subdivision’s five-member Commu-nication Team. “DeKalb statutes make this a crime punishable by imprisonment and a $1,000-a-day fine for every day that this road exists. Is the county above its own laws?”

Jack Wilson did not return telephone calls Thursday, but at Monday’s meeting he said that he was losing $7,000 a day in busi-ness because of the construction and that 23 families of his employees would be impacted if he did not get the access road.

Court action contemplatedAnderson said they are tired of being

bounced back and forth between the DOT and the county.

“The county told us it is a state project and the DOT told us that the plans were drawn up by DeKalb County,” he said Wednesday. “We thought this is so outrageous they would see the injustice, but we are beginning to see that these people don’t care.”

Now residents are considering getting an injunction from the courts to halt the construction of the access road.

As part of the access road, Anderson said the state and the county are building a 60-foot-long driveway with 6 to 7 feet of asphalt on Wilson’s private property.

“They can’t use taxpayers money to do this,” he said. “It’s in black and white. It is settled law. This is not a gray area.”

Darrell Gantt, who has a clear view of the Wilson Welding factory from his windows

and doors on Snapfinger Court, worries that he won’t be able to sell his house if he decides to move.

“That’s a very ugly sight,” said Gantt, who moved to Snapfinger Lake in 2006.

Before they cleared the trees and cut the road, Gantt could not see the factory from his window or front or back doors.

“I could hear it sometimes, but all I saw was bushes,” he said.

Gantt has a son in elementary school and a daughter in high school, and he said their school buses will now encounter 18-wheelers when they pick up and drop them off.

“That can’t be safe,” he said. “They could have just cut through the median in front of his business. Why did they have to bring it down here?”

Herbert Taylor, a 22-year Snapfinger Lake resident, says he is disgusted by what is taking place in his neighborhood.

“We are extremely angry that they would think this is OK,” he said.

Edna Swift, who has lived on Horseshoe Court in the subdivision for a dozen years, calls the illegal road “a total travesty.”

“At the meeting on Monday, they offered us bushes and trees and a gate,” she said. “We want to be restored. We want our subdivision walls back and our one entrance way.”

When she moved to Snapfinger Lake six years ago, Lemuel said she picked the subdivision because it was pristine.

“I could see that the residents who had lived there for almost 20 years took care of their proper-ties,” she said. “I was proud to become a part of this community. I don’t believe that if I had bought my house on the north side of town, they would have done this.”

On Wednesday, the residents got word that their dispute had attracted the attention of the Federal Highway Administration.

Anderson said they got a call from en-vironmental coordinator Jennifer Giersch, who told him that two specialists from their Environmental Impact Office had visited the project to investigate.

“The specialist told me that FHWA, which is funding 80 percent of the Snapfinger road-widening project, is getting involved in this because federal guidelines require notification to neighborhoods of plans that affect neighborhoods,” he said.

Giersch did not return telephone calls by press time Thursday.

Anderson said DeKalb County needs to fix the mess it created and restore the wooded buffer and the subdivision’s entrance to its original state.

“We have got fairness on our side, and that law is behind us,” he said.

SNAPFINGER, FRom PAGE 1

Herbert Taylor

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CrossRoadsNews April 2, 20112

3

Standard & Poor’s has downgraded its ratings on DeKalb County, citing “deteriorating finances.”

Joel Gottlieb, the coun-ty’s chief financial officer, said March 30 that S&P lowered the rating to BBB from AA and subsequently withdrew the ratings.

Gottlieb blamed the downgrade on the county’s financial deterioration and the un-willingness of the Board of Commissioners to implement the tax increase included in CEO Burrell Ellis’ proposed budget.

Instead, the board approved the 2011 budget with an additional $33.6 million in

cuts. This was the second consecutive year it refused to raise taxes.

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

Gottlieb said the mag-nitude of the downgrade reflects S&P’s concern that the county has failed

to act in a manner consistent with a high rating.

The rating downgrade will increase the cost of the interest to be repaid on future indebtedness but does not increase payments on existing debt.

So far, fallout from the budget cuts

includes the layoffs of 82 fire recruits, postponing training for 40 police recruits and the elimination of police crime scene investigators from nonviolent crimes, and the elimination of Saturday hours.

The Tax Commissioner’s Office cut Saturday hours, and the library system has axed weekend hours at most branches and is closing its Scott-Candler branch.

Furloughs and layoffs also are planned in other departments.

Ellis said he presented a lean and respon-sible budget proposal to the board and that it has been playing politics with it ever since.

“Their actions are costing DeKalb taxpay-ers more in the long run, and this is another example of that,” he said.

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Debra DeBerry is DeKalb’s new clerk of Superior Court.

DeBerry, a nine-year employee of the office, was sworn in March 25 by Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Adams, a day after her former boss Linda Carter quit after serving 10 years.

During her time at the office, DeBerry was Carter’s chief deputy with responsibilities for judicial and administrative services.

In her March 24 resignation letter to Gov. Nathan Deal, Carter named DeBerry as her successor. Carter’s resignation was effective immediately.

Carter was DeKalb’s second African-American clerk of Superior Court. She was in the final two years of her third term and would have been up for re-election next year. She gave no reason for her sudden departure.

DeBerry will serve the rest of Carter’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2012. Imme-diately after her swearing-in, DeBerry appointed Rick Setser as her chief deputy clerk.

If she wants to keep the job, DeBerry will have to run for election next year.

The clerk of Superior Court manages all court and property land for DeKalb County.

Community PG

Community “Their actions are costing DeKalb taxpayers more in the long run, and this is another example of that.”

Your Source for Neighborhood News Call 404-284-1888 for Advertising Rates & Information

South Precinct loses beloved commander

Standard & Poor’s lowers ratings on DeKalb County

DeBerry is new clerk of Superior Court

Joel Gottlieb Burrell Ellis

Debra DeBerry

Musical chairs continue at the DeKalb Police South Precinct.

On March 29, the department relocated the entire leadership team – precinct com-mander Maj. T.B. Williams and two captains – at the Candler Road precinct.

Department spokeswoman Mekka Parish said the changes are part of the department’s ongoing discretionary personnel changes and are taking place in other departments.

“It’s not disciplinary related,” she said.She said Maj. E. Jones will become the

South Precinct’s new commander.Parish said she had no information on

where Jones was coming from and said she did not know where Capts. Moore and Harris are being sent.

Williams, who had been at the South Precinct since 2008, will revert to the rank of captain and will be assigned to the Tucker Precinct. Parish said that captains take the rank of major when they are ap-pointed to lead a department and return to the former rank when they are no longer commanding a department.

Former Police Chief Terrell Bolton had tried to move in after only a few months on the job but backed down after com-munity uproar over frequent personnel changes at the precinct.

In a two-year period under Bolton, the South Precinct had five commanders.

Andy Huff, president of the White Oaks Hill Community Association, said

Williams was a great person to work with.“It is just frustrating when they keep

moving the commander,” Huff said. “It’s hard to fight crime and build relationships when it’s a revolving door. This was a man who did not lead from his office. I can’t understand how that can be good for morale.”

Brenda Pace, president of the East Lake Terrace Neighborhood Association, said all the homeowners associations in the area are flabbergasted by Williams’ departure.

“We are all shocked,” she said. “He has always been supportive of the community and everybody respected him.”

Pace said she hopes his replacement will be community-oriented and work with the community like Williams did.

CrossRoadsNewsApril 2, 2011 3

4

INDEX PAGE

Forum

index to advertisers

A Fall From Grace ..........................................9Acts of Valor Salon......................................... 5ATM Constructors, Inc. .................................. 11Auto 285 ...................................................... 10Cake Café Atlanta ...........................................9Community Assoc’s Institute - Ga. Chapter .. 10Congressman Hank Johnson .........................6DeKalb Convention & Visitor’s Bureau ........... 3

Georgia Cares SMP ........................................ 7Henry Mitchell, CPA, PC ............................... 10Hillcrest Church of Christ............................... 11JLperfect Design ............................................ 11Johnny Harris CPA ........................................ 11Laureate Clinical Research Group, LLC. ........ 11Liberty Tax Services ....................................... 5

Living Water Bible Seminary ........................ 10Malcolm Cunningham Auto Gallery..............12Mystery Valley Golf Club ................................ 2New Jerusalem Christian Academy .............. 10Omega One Insurance ................................ 10Parker’s on Ponce ......................................... 11Solid Source Realty GA .................................. 5

South DeKalb YMCA ..................................... 11Stewart Unlimited Inc .................................... 11The Boddie Law Group LLC ......................... 10The Law Office of B.A. Thomas ................... 10The Samuel Group ....................................... 10The Spa at Stonecrest ................................... 11Unity Rally LLC ............................................. 10

I believe I speak for all residents when I say, “Let’s strengthen South DeKalb through beautification and enhancement!”

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.

The concep t , de -sign and content of CrossRoads News are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the writ-ten permission of the publisher.

Advertisements are pub-lished upon the represen-tation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harm-less from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject mat-ter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement.

We reserve the right to re-fuse any advertisement.

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LOCAL

SERVICES!LOCAL

GOODS!

Consider Clarkston for biomass plant

How can local apartment dwellers help with recycling?

South DeKalb deserves better roads, shopping options

What’s the real deal Green Energy?

South DeKalb is a great place to live and raise a family. I have been a resident of South DeKalb for 30 years. I believe I speak for all resi-dents of this tremendous commu-nity when I say, “Let’s strengthen South DeKalb through beautifica-tion and enhancement!”

Why should we continue to al-low the addition of low-end retail and dollar stores?

Why can’t our streets and side-walks be clean and inviting? Why can’t our roads be maintained and thoroughly repaired?

Why can’t our residents have a larger variety of shopping, eat-ing and career choices right where they live?

The answer is there is NO reason. I was proud to read Ro-wena Cowans’ letter “South DeKalb doesn’t need more low-end retail stores” in the Feb. 19 CrossRoads News.

We need to prevent the influx of additional discount/dollar stores.

Why should we want or accept more of the same shopping op-tions? Low-end retail contributes to the empty buildings that cover large portions of our community.

We want and deserve more. There should be an emphasis on

increasing green space, attracting a wider variety of businesses that will remain, and creating higher income career opportunities right here in South DeKalb.

Where are we in the plans to build office parks, which utilize vertical structures? Such buildings

invite new and prosperous busi-nesses, make better use of our open space, and leave room for green space. We want our teachers, public servants, educated young people, etc., to feel excited about residing in and conducting business right here in South DeKalb.

We also want new residents to feel an obligation to assist in our efforts and take this community seriously. We respect and value our public service workers whose jobs are to maintain cleanliness on our streets and sidewalks. But the trash and unkempt shrubbery are absurd. I am speaking specifically about

Wesley Chapel and Snapfinger Road and Flat Shoals Parkway.

Also, why can’t pothole repairs on our roads last longer than a season? Management over public services has to ensure our streets and sidewalks are frequently and efficiently maintained with care. Shopping center owners and business operators should also be required to keep their landscapes clean and trash-free.

Our CEO, commissioners and state representatives must be our voices for the push toward excel-lence in South DeKalb. Elected officials have to make cleanliness and forward-thinking development major parts of their agendas. If these things are not important to our representatives, then we must perform our public duties and elect new officials.

A. Le’Nard Harris II lives in Decatur.

Since August 2010, Green Ener-gy Partners LLC has been in DeKalb County talking about a Green En-ergy Resource Center. In reality, it is a biomass gasification plant.

The company claims that only “yard waste” will be used as fuel. Nonetheless, it continues to com-pare its project to gasification plants in Dalton and Conyers where wood chips or sawdust is mixed with carpet remnants or paper sludge.

DeKalb County awarded a 20-year contract to Green Energy Part-ners last July to buy 40,000 tons of yard waste for $5 per ton per year. Questions about where the other 110,000 tons needed annually to run the gasification plant will come from remain unanswered.

During its March 7 presenta-tion to the community, Green En-ergy Partners’ handout stated 100 construction jobs and 25 full-time positions would be created. They also claimed that a “new technology would be used that did not require a smokestack.”

Amazingly, at the March 22 DeKalb County BOC zoning public hearing, it stated the project would create “500 construction jobs and 100 permanent jobs.”

Somehow in a few weeks, the

so-called community benefits in-creased five times.

The community in and around the proposed site has continu-ally expressed its opposition to the gasification project based on health and environmental concerns. Those concerns are validated by the research of DeKalb County’s Department of Planning & Sustain-ability staff.

The staff analysis of the applica-tion states the potential impacts of biomass facilities on adjacent and surrounding properties include but are not limited to: 1) air pollution from carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and nitric oxide; 2) water quality contamination of state wa-ters (Swift Creek); and 3) dust.

Staff further indicates the po-tential impacts from these emis-sions include “respiratory infec-tions ranging from simple coughs

to bronchitis and pneumonia.” The loading, unloading and hauling of wood chips to, from and within the site all carry the potential for dust emissions that can lead to “respira-tory problems and asthma.”

Green Energy Partners has demonstrated a clear disregard for the legitimate concerns of the com-munity. Moreover, it has failed to meet even the minimum standards required by the county’s zoning ordinance.

County funds should not be expended to help support a proj-ect that has not been adequately prepared by the applicant.

Therefore, the “real deal” should be that the BOC respects the com-munity’s wishes and wisdom and denies Green Energy Partners’ re-quest to build a gasification plant.

Deborah A. Jackson is a member of the Lithonia City Council.

The community in and around the proposed site has continually expressed its opposition

to the gasification project based on health and environmental concerns. Those concerns are validated by the research of DeKalb County’s Department of Planning & Sustainability staff.

Deborah A. Jackson

As I read the article “South DeKalb lags in recycling” in the March 5 CrossRoadsNews, I thought, What about the people who don’t own homes?

I would like to recycle also, but it seems this state and county are geared toward people with money.

I have found that very few government agencies even give out certain information unless you own a business or home. What about us, the ones who keep the owners where they are?

I live in an apartment complex

with a compactor for my trash. How do I help with recycling?

Is it the complex that has to request the service or do I have to drive my trash to another loca-tion?

I think the county is focusing on the wrong group of people.

It is the young and minimum wage-paid people who should be targeted for the recycling educa-tion. It should not have to be the responsibility of where you live either. It is an individual decision.

I also have a diabetic child but can’t find where I should dispose

of his needles. His endocrinologist has no idea either and that should be automatically set up through your doctor when a prescription for needles is written. This would definitely help the landfill.

I have not called to inquire about trying to get my own blue bin, but I felt the need to say my piece about this article.

I did like it, but it was another reminder that if you don’t own something in this town, you don’t matter.

Billie Brown lives in Decatur.

I’m so sorry that the residents of Lithonia turned down the gas-ification plant, but I believe that Clarkston should be considered.

If you can get me or help me get my information to those capable of hearing me, Clarkston has the area and the rail system through it, and there are two or three abandoned former factory sites that can be converted.

I don’t represent any group other than I live in Clarkston.

I have previously done my research on gasification, and if I had the means I’d start one.

There are no valid fears that the people of Lithonia should have. I already realize that the process is more than safe.

Qurtis Jaxson lives in Clark-ston.

Clarkston has the area and the rail system through it,

and there are two or three abandoned former factory

sites that can be converted. Qurtis Jaxson

I think the county is focusing on the wrong group of people. It is the young and minimum wage-paid people

who should be targeted for the recycling education. Billie Brown

There should be an emphasis on increasing green space, attracting a wider variety of businesses that will remain, and creating higher income

career opportunities right here in South DeKalb. A. Le’Nard Harris II


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Metro jobless rate declinesto 10.2 percent in February

Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate dipped to 10.2 percent in February, down two-tenths of a percentage point from Janu-ary’s revised 10.4 percent rate.

A year ago in February, the metro jobless rate was 10.7 percent.

The Georgia Department of Labor credits this February’s decrease, which is preliminary and unadjusted, to 16,400 new jobs mostly in the service-related industries, construction and manufacturing.

In DeKalb County, there were 3,541 initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits in February, down 1,056 – or 23 percent – from 4,597 in January.

In February 2010, there were 4,268 initial claims, for an over-the-year decline of 727, or 17 percent.

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The free program, which begins in Sep-tember, is accepting applications from adults who are 18 to 24 years old. It requires a one-year commitment between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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Unemployment rates decreased in 20 of the state’s 25 local areas, with five area rates remaining unchanged. At 7.7 percent, metro Athens recorded the state’s lowest rate, while metro Dalton had the highest at 12.2 percent.

Georgia’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate for February was 10.2 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 10.3 percent in January. The state’s jobless rate was 10.3 percent in February 2010.

February marked the 41st consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the na-tional unemployment rate, which is currently 8.9 percent.

Local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. For more information, visit www.dol.state.ga.us.


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Diabetes expo offers free exams

Food safety at Lunch and Learn

Fla. woman gets new hand

Linda Lu (left), 21, a college student from Orlando, Fla., underwent a hand transplant at Emory University Hospital on March 12, a first for the Atlanta hospital.

Finalists pose ideas for fixing DeKalb

“He gave the best answers and sold himself the best,” he said. “He had a lot of specifics and gave very in-depth answers. I could work with him and he said he would work with the community.”

Shutten said he was impressed that Cul-ver had led the Champaign school district through a difficult time and was successful.

“That means a lot,” Shutten said. “He is somebody with experience, not flash. We don’t need flashy. Crawford was exciting and where did that get us.”

Annette Davis-Jackson, whose children used to attend DeKalb Schools, said she was impressed with Davis’ confidence and liked her talking points.

“I liked what she had to say about fi-nances, the divisions between the north and south, teacher development and classroom instruction,” she said. “She was sound, solid, truthful and transparent.”

Each candidate was in the room for 50 minutes answering questions ranging from what they would do in their first six months on the job; how they would gain the trust of students, parents, employees and the com-munity; to how would they bridge the gap between north and south DeKalb.

They also gave the reasons why they were the best person for the job.

Davis, who was the most engaging speaker of the three, said she is a leader who is vested in children and that she has been a risk taker throughout her career.

“I seem to aspire to challenges and I be-lieve that my background and my expertise in the area of curriculum and instruction and academic achievement makes me a very valu-able leader,” said Davis, a 36-year educator.

In 2001, she was the first African-Amer-ican female to head the Dodge City School System in Dodge City, Texas. She has been in her current position since 2006 and heads a district with 23 schools and 9,000 students.

She earns $175,000. Cox said her experiences from the class-

room to the superintendent’s office have equipped her with the skills to lead a district like DeKalb.

“I’ve worked with every department and every division in my current school district and with community groups and on community boards,” she said. In 2009, she became the first woman to head Hickory’s public schools, which has nine schools and 5,000 students. She earns $145,000 a year.

After reading the SACS report and see-ing the issues that needs to be addressed in DeKalb County, Cox said the focus needs to be on what is going on in the classroom.

“A lot of things that needed to be ad-dressed on the list were policies, procedures, processes of input and things like that at the top level,” she said. “There was not a mention of what is happening in the school building and that’s a real shame. We need to get our focus back in the school buildings.”

Culver, who grew up poor in a family with 10 children, said he became an educator because of the positive influence education had on his life.

“I wanted to give back to the field that really helped me in my life,” he said.

With 10 years of classroom experience before moving into administration, he said he will make sure all children in the DeKalb get the education that they need.

In Champaign, Culver heads a 17-school district with 8,900 students. He earns $226,049 a year. Before Champaign, he was school chief in the Long View Independent Schools in Longview, Texas.

Culver said he sees the DeKalb School system as a district with a lot of promise.

“I know I have the background and the skills in order to take this district to the next level,” he said.

For more information and updates on the permanent superintendent search, visit www.dekalbsuperintendentsearch.com.

FINALISTS, FRom PAGE 1

Families can get valuable food safety ad-vice on April 11 at the “Summertime Food Safety Tips – Food Safety Information From the Store to Your Door” session at Northlake Mall.

The DeKalb County Board of Health’s Lunch and Learn session begins at 12:30 p.m. in the One DeKalb Neighborhood Resource Center on the mall’s lower level

A diabetes expo at the Geor-gia World Congress Center on April 9 will update youth, adults and caregivers on the chronic disease as well as offer free screenings and demonstra-tions.

Expo Atlanta, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is sponsored by Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club. More than 60 exhibitors are participating in this year’s event, which will be held in Building C, Hall C-4, at the World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta.

Free health screenings will include A1C, BMI, blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol and eye, foot, hearing and kidney exams.

There will be cooking and exercise demonstrations and access to health care professionals for one-on-one questions.

Mike Gault, an American Diabetes Association senior executive, said a recent survey showed that more than half of peo-ple with diabetes “forget or fail to properly take their medications,” a critical compo-nent to successful diabetes control.

“Too many people with diabetes aren’t

getting the care they need, which can lead to serious complications and increased health care costs,” he said.

Gault said the expo provides a fun, relaxed environment to learn about prevention and management of the chronic disease that afflicts nearly 26 million adults and chil-dren in the United States – includ-

ing 1 million adults in Georgia – and another 79 million have prediabetes, meaning they are on the path to diabetes but may be able to reverse it with diet and exercise.

Diabetes is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in DeKalb County, and the county’s 2010 Status of Health in DeKalb Report says that 7 percent of DeKalb adults have been told by a health professional that they have diabetes. In DeKalb and nation-ally, African-Americans are nearly three times more likely to develop the disease than whites.

The report says overweight and obesity put children and adults at risk for diabetes.

For more information, visit www.diabetes .org/EXPOAtlanta or call 1-888-342-2383, Ext. 3166.

near Macy’s.The one-hour session will cover trans-

porting foods from the store to home; safe handling of foods; and adequate cold holding, thawing and cooking tempera-tures. Participants also will learn about safe reheating for leftovers.

For more information, visit www.de kalbhealth.net or call 404-294-3700.

Mike Gault

A 21-year-old college student from the Orlando, Fla., area has a new left hand today after a 19-hour surgery at Emory University Hospital on March 12.

Transplant and reconstructive surgeons from Emory performed the rare complete hand transplant on Linda Lu, a first for the Atlanta hospital.

Multiple teams of surgeons, anesthesi-ologists, nurses and operating room support staff took part in the transplant. Two teams – one dedicated to the patient and the other to the donor arm – successfully completed the surgery at about midnight.

Lu is one of 15 people in the country to have had a successful hand transplant. Her

left hand was amputated when she was 1 year old due to an illness.

She is now beginning rehabilitation at Emory and will spend the next three months in Atlanta.

At a March 28 news conference, she said she was filled with emotions.

“I don’t think that there is really anything that can describe how I feel, other than just happiness, hopefulness and of course thank-fulness,” she said.

Lu said she understands that it will never be a normal hand but that she expects it to help in simple everyday activities.

For more information, visit http://bit .ly/1stHandTransplantAtEmory.


7

Wellness

Wellness The Lithonia church launched the ESIII Bike Club in memory of church member Eddie Saunders III of Ellenwood, who died in September.

Talks on injury prevention

Big Miller Grove cyclists pedal way to fitness Beginner and advanced riders can join

members of Big Miller Grove as they bicycle their way to fitness three days a week on the Arabia Mountain trails.

The Lithonia church has launched a cycling club, ESIII Bike Club, in memory of church member Eddie Saunders III of El-lenwood, who died in September.

Saunders took to biking last year after he and his wife, Paula McGuire Saunders of the recording group D’Vine, completed their fifth Peachtree Road Race on July Fourth.

For their 27th wedding anniversary last year, the couple bought his and her bicycles.

Before Saunders’ death in September, the high school sweethearts had biked hundreds of miles along the Arabia Mountain trails and motivated fellow church members to join them.

The ESIII Bike Club is open to church members and the general public of all rid-ing abilities.

Riders hit the trails Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Beginner and advanced rider groups are available dur-ing each time frame. Riding distances vary according to skill level.

Private teaching sessions also are of-fered to beginners or individuals who need review or additional training on bike riding or changing gears. The teaching sessions are available weekly in the church parking lot by appointment only.

Freddie West, a Big Miller Grove deacon, joined the club and now rides more than 30 miles weekly with the group.

“I am a 67-year-old who had not ridden on a bicycle since high school, but Eddie taught me how to change gears and improve my bike riding skills in one session,” West said.

Kathy Cain, who organized the ESIII Bike Club, said the sole purpose of the club is to promote health, fellowship and fun.

“We want to encourage anyone who is interested to join us as we become health-ier while enjoying the beauty of the Arabia trails,” she said.

The only requirements: You must have a bike, a helmet and a desire to ride with a group.

Big Miller Grove Missionary Baptist Church is at 3800 Big Miller Grove Way, off Panola Road. For more information, call the church office at 770-981-3800, Ext. 120.

Big Miller Grove bikers include (left to right, front row) Freddie West, John Gordon (co-founder), Willie Cain, Dr. Anthony Rutledge and Kenny Ray; (left to right, back row) Valerie Sullivan, Paula McGuire Saunders, Holly Hicks-Kendrick, Kathy Cain (co-founder) and Peggy Benton.

Eddie Saunders III and wife Paula McGuire Saunders inspired fellow members to ride bikes.

Injury prevention is on the agenda at a series of workshops hosted by the DeKalb Board of Health from April 4 to 8.

The free sessions are part of its celebra-tion of National County Government Month and National Public Health Week.

From 2002 and 2006, nearly 110,000 lo-cal residents were treated in an emergency room or hospitalized due to an injury.

The topics:n April 4 – “Household Poison Prevention” with Rachel Gorodetsky, Georgia Poison Center. Noon-1 p.m.; Richardson Health Center, 445 Winn Way, Decatur.n April 5 – “Traumatic Brain Injury in Children: Outcomes and Prevention Activities” with Julie Krupa-Haarbauer, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s BRAIN – Bringing Rehabilitation and Injury Re-covery to New Levels – program. Noon-1 p.m.; Richardson Health Center.n April 6 – “Child Passenger Safety Es-sentials: Reducing Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries” with Danika Lomax, DeKalb Safe Communities coordinator, and Janet Weis-man, Injury Prevention coordinator, both from the Board of Health. 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Richardson Health Center.n April 7 – “Is Your Family Prepared for an Emergency?” with Veronda Griffin, risk communicator from the Board of Health. Noon-1 p.m.; Vinson Health Center, 440 Winn Way.n April 8 – “Gang Awareness and Violence Prevention” with Sgt. Charles Lyda from the DeKalb Police Gang Task Force. Noon-1 p.m., Richardson Health Center.

Participants can bring box lunches to the noon talks. For more information or to reserve a seat, call 404-294-3719.


8

Three Southwest DeKalb High alums – India Ali (from left), Natalya Bodrick and Omari Crawford – are pursuing degrees at North Carolina Central University School of Law in Durham.

Deadline looms fo space studies

Southwest DeKalb grads pursuing the law Youth “This is a story of success and of students who are high achievers. I

am impressed by their competence and their dedication.”

Teachers can learn about space medi-cine, human factors, astronautics and suborbital science this summer at five workshops sponsored by the Teachers in Space program in Florida, Texas and California.

Applications are being accepted through April 15.

Successful applicants will get to partici-pate in one of the program’s five one-week professional development workshops for high school science, technology, engineer-ing and math teachers. The workshops are free to teachers, and low-cost subsidized housing will be available.

Teachers will learn about aeronautics and spaceflight while experiencing the training future space pilots will receive.

The workshop will be held for the first time at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas on June 20-24. Repeat sessions will be held at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., on July 18-22 and at NASA Dryden’s AERO Insti-tute in Palmdale, Calif., on July 25-29.

At the Space Medicine and Human Factors Workshop, teachers will learn about high-altitude physiology and respi-ration; decompression and vacuum expo-sure; space weather and radiation; and the effects of weightlessness, gee forces, noise and vibration. The workshop will be held at Embry-Riddle on July 11-15.

At the Suborbital Flight Experiment Workshop at the AERO Institute on Aug. 1, teachers will gain hands-on experience with space hardware as they build experi-ments for the Excelsior STEM mission.

For more information and applica-tions, visit www.teachersinspace.org /workshops.

By Carla Parker

India Ali, Natalya Bodrick and Omari Crawford used to walk the halls together at Southwest DeKalb High School. Today, they are walking together on the campus of North Carolina Central University School of Law.

From Decatur, Ga., to Durham, N.C., the three Southwest DeKalb alums are pursuing law degrees at NCCU.

Bodrick, a 2003 Southwest DeKalb gradu-ate, is set to graduate this May with a juris doctorate.

Ali and Crawford, who are both 2004 graduates, are in a joint law/master’s in business administration program and set to graduate in 2013.

DeKalb Superior Court Judge Mark Scott, who has had both Crawford and Bodrick as law interns in his office, said he is impressed with the accomplishments of the three stu-dents and that they all hail from Southwest DeKalb High School.

“This is a story of success and of students who are high achievers,” Scott said. “I am impressed by their competence and their dedication.”

Scott said that the story of the three is unusual because of their alma mater.

“Southwest DeKalb has a wonderful reputation as a sports school,” he said. “But they also produce intellectuals. We don’t hear enough about that.”

Bodrick, 25, was the first of the trio to enroll at North Carolina Central University in 2008. She said she went into law because she wanted to dedicate her career to helping others.

“I was in the premeditator program at Southwest and I enjoyed speaking up for students who got into altercations,” she said. “I wanted to do that with law.”

Bodrick did her undergraduate studies at Howard University in Washington and finished in 2007 with a degree in administra-tion of justice under sociology.

She applied to North Carolina Central University Law School, and she was offered a $3,000 scholarship.

“NCCU is a great school and they have a great reputation of producing female law-yers,” she said.

After graduation, Bodrick plans to be-come a criminal defense lawyer, but her ultimate goal is to become a judge.

When she heard from a mutual friend that Ali was thinking about attending NCCU, she gave her a call.

“I talked to her about NCCU and all the great qualities about the school,” Bodrick said.

Ali, 24, had no idea what career she want-ed after she graduated in 2008 from Hofstra University in Long Island, N.Y., with a degree in business marketing and fine arts.

She played basketball at Hofstra and worked at record label Grand Hustle En-tertainment and said she knew she wanted to work in the sports and entertainment fields.

Her mother, Gladys, a paralegal with the Clayton County Commissioners Office, sug-gested she go to law school.

“One of her colleagues, who is an alum of NCCU Law School, suggested that I apply to North Carolina Central,” Ali said.

She went through the summer Perfor-mance Based Admission Program at the school and was accepted into its law school in 2009.

“It’s been a good experience so far,” she said.

Ali and Crawford, 25, have been good friends since they were 8 years old.

When Ali told Crawford that she was thinking about attending NCCU, she was surprised to hear that her childhood friend applied as well.

Crawford has always been an advocate for civil rights and decided to make a career as a civil litigator.

“I’ve always been big on equality among all races,” he said.

After high school, Crawford attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Uni-versity, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public administration.

When Crawford was searching for law schools to attend, Dr. James Ammons, president of FAMU, and his mentor, Judge Scott, recommended North Carolina Central University to him.

The three were all excited to be attending the same law school when Ali and Crawford stepped on campus.

“It was comforting to see familiar faces,” Bodrick said.

“It makes it easier being home away from home,” Crawford said.

“With Natalya and Omari here, it made me less nervous about going to law school because of the support system there,” Ali said.

It was also a proud moment for Bo-drick.

“I was proud to know that so many Southwest DeKalb alums were coming to NCCU,” she said.

Since Bodrick is ahead of Ali and Craw-ford, she gives them advice about classes and professors and helps them out with schoolwork.

“I always make myself available to them if they need my help,” Bodrick said.

“Natalya gave us advice on studying, case studies, and how to take notes,” Crawford said.

“She gave me some of her old books and outlines,” Ali said.

All three are members of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and officers of their class executive boards, and they participate in campus events.

“We are involved a lot at school,” Ali said. “Everyone knows our faces.”

After graduation, Bodrick and Crawford said they will move back to Georgia and take the Georgia Bar examination and begin their careers.

Ali is still undecided about what she wants to do with her law degree, but she is leaning toward representing athletes and entertainers.

“It’s so much you can do with a law de-gree,” she said.


9

Four advocates for affordable housing will be DeKalb Habitat’s inaugural Golden Hammer Awards recipients on April 16.

The honorees are DeKalb Commu-nity Development Director Chris Morris, Habitat International’s Carol Gregory, and Habitat board members John Mullins and Mark Taylor, who received awards in separate categories.

The ceremony at the Decatur Holiday Inn Select will include live music, a dinner buffet, cash bar and silent auction.

Kimberly Cameron, DeKalb Habitat board president, said the event will rec-ognize key individuals for their tireless efforts working for affordable housing in DeKalb County.

Morris is getting the Community De-velopment Award for more than 30 years of developing viable urban communities.

Gregory is being recognized for her 23 years serving Habitat’s mission at the local and state level.

Mullins, who is retired from the insur-ance industry, will receive the Volunteer Award for his eight years of tireless and passionate efforts with DeKalb Habitat.

Taylor is the recipient of the award in the Partner Family category. He, his wife, Yonette, and two children have been Habi-tat homeowners for more than 11 years, and he has actively supported new Habitat families on their own path to successful homeownership.

The hotel is at 130 Clairemont Ave.For tickets, sponsorships and dona-

tions for the silent auction, visit www .dekalbhabitat.org or call 404-534-1611.

Johnson honored for leadership on behalf of animals

When the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center sent out a call for help, 75 people showed up on March 29 to volunteer their services at the Decatur venue.

Chris Morris

Hank Johnson

Carol Gregory

Kathern Thomas

Scene “We want to make our patrons feel special when they come to the center. We want our guests to be greeted with smiles and hugs.”

Habitat honors four activists

Church seminar focuses on singles

Dozens show up to be art center’s volunteers

Single men and women can find out about “Being Complete in Him” at an April 16 Singles Seminar at Worshippers Interceding for Excellence Church in Scottdale.

Kathern Thomas, the church’s pastor and author of “Celebrating Celibacy,” will be the featured speaker. Topics to be explored include contentment, self-control, freedom and holiness.

Refreshments will be served during the 1-to-3 p.m. seminar.The church is at 3096 N. Decatur Road. For more information, call

404-455-6678.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson is the Humane Society of the United States Legislative Leader of the Year.

Johnson was recognized at a Capitol reception on March 30 for leadership on behalf of animals in 2010.

The Humane Society said he encouraged the secretary of defense to develop alternatives to the use

of live animals in battlefield trauma training. He also co-sponsored H.R. 403, the Battlefield Excellence Through Superior Training Prac-tices Act, or BEST Practices Act, which prohibits the use of animals in live combat trauma injury and chemical and biological training, Wayne Pacelle, the group’s president, said Johnson has been an important

voice for enhancing animal protection in

John Mullins Mark Taylor

federal law.“We’re grateful to him for taking the

lead and drawing attention to these vital concerns,” he said.

Johnson said studies show that animals physically feel pain just like humans.

“How we treat animals reflects our values as a society and stewardship of the planet. We must do all we can to treat animals with respect and kindness and defeat animal cruelty wherever we can.”

By Carla Parker

When theatergoers and art lovers show up at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center, they will now be greeted by 75 new, friendly faces – all volunteers who raised their hands to serve at the Decatur center.

The group of young and middle-aged men and women, who will be called ambassadors, answered the call for help and showed up in force on March 29 for an orientation and network-ing session.

The turnout surprised David Manuel, the center’s executive director.

“I was expecting 30 to 35 people,” he said. “This is a great turnout.”

The volunteers went through an hour-long orientation and training session that prepares them to greet patrons and visitors and assist with the center’s special events.

Manuel said the ambassadors will help set the standard for welcoming the center’s users.

“We want to make all of our patrons feel special when they come to the center,” he said. “We want our guests to be greeted with smiles and hugs.”

During the orientation, the ambassadors toured the facility and learned about each room.

“We don’t want them to just say, ‘This is our auditorium,’” Manuel said. “We want them to show guests where the classrooms are and what classes are being held. We also want them to tell guests who is on the staff.”

But their knowledge does not stop at

the end of the center’s grounds on Rainbow Drive. Manuel said he wants the ambassa-dors to know about nearby businesses and organizations.

“We want them to promote Greenforest Community Baptist Church, South DeKalb mall, Shum Tek Buddhist Church,” he said. “We’re all working together.”

Sharon Dodson of Decatur, who showed up for the training, said she has been volun-teering off and on at the center for a year.

“Having the center here is a great thing for DeKalb,” she said. “I hope more people will come in to volunteer, particularly the youth.”

Margie Shorter-Haley of Ellenwood, who enjoys the arts, said she wanted to volunteer

since the center is close by her home.“I can’t always make it to the art events

in downtown Atlanta because of parking and traffic,” she said. “I’m happy to have the center in the community and I want to participate with all the events.”

Three more orientation and training sessions are planned – on May 17, July 19 and Oct. 18.

To serve, ambassadors must be 18 or older and have a neat appearance and good communication skills.

The Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center is at 3181 Rainbow Drive. For more information, visit www .co.dekalb.ga.us/PorterSanford/index.html or call 404-286-7262.


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Saturday, April 16th • 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.Renaissance Waverly Hotel

2450 Galleria ParkwayAtlanta, GA 30339

www.theneighborhoodexpo.orgFor more information call 678-715-1430

Neighborhood Conference & Expo

Help for Homeowners AssociationsGet practical resources and real solutions to manage

your community associations at the

Free & Open to the Public

Sponsored by Community Associations Institute (CAI)

April 30, 2011Georgia International Horse Park

Call 770-648-8023 today! www.UnityRally.org

The Unity Rally for Cultural Awareness & Racial Harmony

for

It’s Time to Get Your Vendor

Booth/Promotional Ad

Money-Saving Tax Preparation• Mention this ad and receive 30% discount.• Receive additional discount if you are an active-duty military

family or single parent • Refer a friend and receive $25 in cash• Bring your 2008 & 2009 returns and we will review them for

any errors or refund denied or omitted.• Bring any letter you received from the IRS and we will read

and advise you accordingly. We saved Chris over $10,000 for letters he had received from the IRS.

Henry has 17 years under his belt in the tax preparation business. He is an adjunct instructor of accounting at Atlanta Metro College. Henry is governed by one universal principle: Treat people as you would like them to treat you.

Call Henry Mitchell, CPA at (678) 663-6229

Wall Street experienced professionals providing business plans, incorporations, financial

statement preparation and other consulting services.

The Samuel Group404-870-9070

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & CONSULTING 50%

off

NJCA DaycareInfants......... $65Ages 1-5 ..... $57404-292-2046

Omega One Insurance

Auto•Home•Life•Commercial“Your ultimate online insurance company”

Office Hours: Mon–Sat: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.

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11

resumes to 2394 Gresham Rd., Atlanta, GA 30316

legAl noticesNotice is given that articles of in-corporation which will incorporate My Father’s House Mentoring Service, Inc., will be delivered to the Secretary of State for filing in accordance with the Georgia Nonprofit Corporation Code. The initial registered office of the corporation will be located at 4737 Mayer Trace, Ellenwood, Georgia 30294, and its initial register agent at such address is Benjamin C. Johnson II.

ministry PG

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

MarketplacecoMputers

www.jonatech.net. Laptops $199 & up. Screens replaced, router config, spyware, virus removal. Diagnostic fee $40. Jonatech 678-918-4445.

FinAnciAl helpI will exchange five dollars for ten dimes dated 1964 or before. M.Jerome 404-324-2036. [email protected].

For rent/leAseBeautiful Efficiency. I-20, Wesley Chapel Road. Furnished, clean. Utilities included. Private entry. Parking. $22.50 daily. Pool & BBQ. 770-558-1227

Lithonia- 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse. $900/month + $600 deposit. Section 8 ok. Near schools, Mall, Walmart, Marta, I-20. 770-786-7148/404-284-5831.

Senior Housing Community (60+ ) Decatur LOVING SAFE SENIOR Community. Live like a “Golden Girl” for less. Share house w/other seniors.Pvt Rm Avail. On Marta. Emma Cares (770)885-2537.

House for Rent, Belvedere Com-munity 3 Br 1.5 Bath Brick Ranch on Large lot. Hardwood through-

out, newly renovated, car port, central A/C, section 8 accepted, $850/mo one month security deposit. call (404)556-1144

Miscellaneous Space for RENT. Rent for church functions. Includes comm. kitchen and nursery. Hwy 285 & Bouldercrest. Call for details

Decatur-3/2 Newly remodeled near South Dekalb Mall. Large Yard. Marta. Section 8. Security +1st month required. 678-361-0047.

For sAleStone Mountain 4 bedrm, 2.5 ba, LR, DR, 2 car gar. $69000. $1,000 down, $525 per mon, must qualify. call 24 hrs 1-888-269-6795 x150. Keller Williams

Snellville brick 4 bedrm 2.5 ba, LR, DR, 2 car gar $68,500. $1000 down, 549 per mon, must qualify. call 24 hrs 1-888-269-6795 x160 Keller Williams

help WAntedStyling with Passion Salon in Decatur is Now hiring Licensed Stylist! For more information, please call Martice at 404-849-1975.

First Baptist Church is looking for a Minister of Music. Please send

services

spas & salons

health & fitness

restaurants

financial services

financial services

services

health & wellness

home services

recreation

If This Was Your Ad, Someone Would Be

Seeing It Now!Call 404-284-1888 today for rates & information.

www.eastmetromarket.comFind Local Goods & Services

THIS SIZEAD FOR ONLY$50

Call 404-284-1888 to find out how.

www.johnnyharriscpa.com

FREE 1040 EZ and Electronic Filing

JOHNNY HARRIS, CPA PC

Taxes • IRS Representation • Debt ConsolidationConsulting • Business Returns

5211 Covington HwyDecatur, Ga. 30035

CALL FOR APPT

(678) 518-8501 Evenings and

weekends available

High Blood Pressure & Type II DiabetesRESEARCH STUDY

Local physicians are studying the investigational use of two approved and marketed high blood pressure medications in people with type 2 diabetes.

You may be eligible to participate in this study if you have been diagnosed with type II diabetes and have, or think you may have, high blood pressure.

To qualify you must be on a stable diabetes treatment, but not taking insulin.

Qualified participants receive study-related care, including physical exams, lab services and high blood pressure medication at no cost. You will also continue taking your diabetes medication. Compensation for time and travel may also be available.

To learn more about this study for type II diabetes and high blood pressure, please call:

678-781-3038www.NovartisClinicalTrials.com

WHERE EVERY KID PLAYSYOUTH SPORTSSpring SoccerSOUTH DEKALB FAMILY YMCA

Ages 3-8 • Boys & Girls • $95 Call 770-987-3500 for details

Exceptional Dining•

Outstanding Service•

Comfortable Atmosphere

!!"#E%#Pon)e#de#Leon#A.enue

De)atur4#Georgia##89989

:9:%;<:%<<89

===%>a r ?e r s on>on)e % )oA*Sun-Thurs: 5-10, Fri-Sat: 5-11

* POPs is available for private parties seven days a week from 10:30am until 9:00pm

EB)eeding#EB>e)tations

a#stea?Couse

Spring Handyman Special: $250 Off

any renovation project

Offer expires: 6/8/2011

Income Tax, Referrals,and Connections

Personal and Business Tax Returns

Open Year Round!

Call today 404-549-25015300 Memorial Drive

Suite 224-FStone Mountain, GA 30083


12BACK COVER

5C (10.5”) X

16” 25365-MC

FO (4-2) C

rossroads FC (nb)

Malcolm Cunningham Ford Malcolm Cunningham LinCoLn Malcolm Cunningham Auto Gallery

CheCk Outthese

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It’s Not Just Luxury...

It’s smarterthan that.

5675 PeachtreeIndustrial

Blvd

I-20, ExitWesley ChapelTo Snapfinger Woods Drive

5675 PeachtreeIndustrial Blvd

770-621-0200 770-987-9000(770)

621-0200www.MalcolmCunninghamFord.com www.MCAutoAtl.comWWW.MALCOLMCUNNINGHAMLINCOLN.COM

New 2011 Ford

FOCUS SE

Lease for 24 months with $2597 due at signing including $0 security deposit. 10,500 miles per year and 15¢ per mile thereafter plus tax,

tag, and title with approved credit. Offer expires month end.

$159perMo.Lease for

automatic

New 2011 Ford

ESCApE XLS

Lease for 24 months with $2829 due at signing including $0 security deposit. 10,500 miles per year and 15¢ per mile thereafter plus tax,

tag, and title with approved credit. Offer expires month end.

$199perMo.Lease for

FWD

4 Year/50,000 mIlemaIntenanCe

InCluded4-year/50,000-mile Limited Maintenance Plan. Coverage includes a

maximum of eight regularly scheduled maintenance services. See dealer for qualifications and complete details. Program ends 4/30/11.

$399 $0Due at Signing

new 2011 lInCOln mkZMSRP $35,180 • VIN# 3LNHL2G0BR757307

Lease for

per Month

With

Lease for 36 months, with $0 due at signing, including $0 security deposit, 10,500 miles per year, 20¢ per mile thereafter with approved credit. Plus tax, tag, and title.


new 2011 lInCOln mksMSRP $44,595 • VIN#1LNHL9DR9BG600304

Lease for

per Month

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new 2011 lInCOln mkXMSRP $40,915 • VIN#2LMDJ6JK6BBJ21019

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With


Got A Dent? Got A Ding? Get A Free estimate!All Insurance Claims Welcome. Open 6 Days a Week.

Must Present Coupon When Order Is Written. Not Valid With Any Other Offer. One Coupon Per Visit. Up To 5 Quarts, Diesels And Some Models Slightly Higher. Expires 4/30/11.

OIL CHANGe& CAr WAsH$2495 ValId OnlY

at malCOlm CunnIngham autO grOup

we now rent &Sell truckS!770-987-8189service special!

We will buy or trade your car...

We Want yourtrade no

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2010 Ford TAUrUS SELFor a limited term with approved credit.

New 2011 Ford

F-150 SUpErCAb

Lease for 36 months with $2429 due at signing including $0 security deposit. 10,500 miles per year and 15¢ per mile thereafter plus tax, tag,

and title with approved credit. Offer expires at month end.

$279perMo.Lease for

prices plus, Tax, Tag And Title.

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2006 Ford Five Hundred Auto, Power Windows, Power Locks, CD, Must See, Stk#A1508 .......... $99952006 lincoln Zephyr Leather, Sunroof, Navigation, Chrome Wheels, Stk#A1485 .................. $10,9952010 kia rio Auto, Low Payments, Gas Saver, Stk#A1476 ......................................................... $10,9952008 chrysler Sebring Auto, Power Windows, Power Locks, CD, Great Price, Stk#A1520 .... $10,9952009 toyota Yaris Auto, Power Window, Gas Saver, Low Payments, Stk#A1450 ...................... $11,3502008 chevrolet Impala Auto, Power Windows, Power Locks, CD, Nice, Stk#A1477 .............. $12,9952009 Mazda 6 Check Out The New Look, Stk#A1472 ................................................................ $13,8882006 Dodge ram 1500 Auto, V8, Must See, Stk#A1498 ..................................................... $13,9952007 Ford edge Auto, Power Window, Power Locks, CD, And More, Stk#A1426 ........................ $14,9892008 Dodge charger Power Windows, Power Locks, CD, Sporty, Stk#A1510 ........................ $14,9952008 chevrolet trailblazer Ready For Family FUN! Stk#A1446 ...................................... $14,9982009 nissan Altima Auto, Power Locks, Power Windows, CD, Tilt Steering, Stk#A1515 .......... $15,9952007 toyota camry le Leather, Power Windows, Power Locks, Stk#A1516 .......................... $15,9952008 chrysler 300 Ride In Style, Loaded, Must See, Stk#A1444A ......................................... $15,9952008 lincoln MkZ True Class, Leather, Sunroof, Low Miles, And More, Stk#A1470.................. $18,9952007 Mercedes c-class Leather, Sunroof, CD, Nice, Stk#A1500 ...................................... $18,9952006 chevrolet Silverado crew cab lt Priced Right, V8, Powerful, Stk#A1503 ..... $19,9592007 Infiniti G35 Ride In Style, Great Look And More, Stk#A1518 ......................................... $19,9952008 Honda Accord eX Auto, Leather, Sunroof, CD, Only 26K Miles, Stk#A1517 ................ $19,9952008 Ford expedition eddie Bauer Sunroof, Leather, DVD, Nice, Stk#A1410 ............. $22,8882007 BMw 328 coupe Sporty, Clean, Like New, Stk#A1487 .............................................. $22,8882010 nissan Maxima Auto, Sunroof, Leather, Stk#A1574 ................................................... $22,995

PluS MAnY More!

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CrossRoadsNews, April 2, 2011

Documents

illegal road

widening snapfinger

illegal access road

wesley chapel road

wilson welding access

county ordinance

required buffer

residential properties