EDUCATION: Locked Out receives top praise with three awards at student film festival | Page 9

the DeKalb FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • VOL. 24, NO 3 • FREE

Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest and Tucker • A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS

Yoon Nam, event DJ, keeps the party going during Art Crush. Photos provided by Burnaway.

Southern art celebrated

at Art Crush show
BY TAYLOR ROBINS only organizations that’s Jiha Moon─the event’s
taylor@dekalbchamp.com advocating for artists in the honoree and a mixed media
region to the broader art artist, was thanked with a

B
world in the United States.” speech and silk screenings
urnaway, a 10-year-
More than $50,000 was of her work were offered
old non-profit
raised at the event and will for purchase. Moon is
An artist interacts with attendees at the recent Art Crush art show. magazine based in
benefit Burnaway's mission one of the most nationally
Atlanta, held its annual Art
to keep a spotlight on reconized artists in the
Crush show and fundraiser
Southern art. Atlanta area and is also a
to highlight visual art in the
According to Nelson, Chamblee resident.
south Feb. 16 at Factory
Southern art differs from Michi Meko, Sonya
Atlanta in Chamblee.
art in other regions because Yong James and Peter
“It’s also an opportunity
“Southern art is influenced Bahouth were among other
to bring together the artists
not only by mainstream local artists highlighted
that we’ve been excited
urban culture but there’s a during the event.
about for the year and
lot influence of the fact that Attendees were also
a big accessible party
the South was agrarian for able to participate in live
format for art enthusiasts
so long and we have really auctions for experience
and Atlantans alike,”
specific movements in the tours with the artists,
said Burnaway Executive
south like self-taught folk curators from the High
Director Erin Nelson. “So
art.” Museum and the Atlanta
we’re really one of the

Burnaway, a nonprofit magazine, held its annual art show and fundraiser at SEE ART ON PAGE 3
Chamblee’s Factory Atlanta.

Visit www.TheChampionNewspaper.com for local, real DeKalb County news.

LOCAL
TUCKER
Documentary to feature historic Black community
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
To some the Peters Park
community in Tucker is known
as the neighborhood behind
the Sam’s Club on Mountain
Industrial Boulevard, but
Tucker is hoping to change
that perspective.
On Feb. 28, the city will
premiere its first documentary
film, Four Streets, which
shares the stories of several
longtime residents of the
historic African-American
community. Residents
featured in the film share
their memories of life in the
area dating back to the 1940s
through the Civil Rights
Movement and into present
day.
Tucker Communications
Director Matt Holmes said
the city wanted to feature one
of its oldest communities in
honor of Black History Month.
“It’s a community where
people have embodied the
idea of living your whole life
there,” Holmes said. “There
are people who have lived
there for upward of 60 years.
There are so many good
stories in that community from
people that we’ve met and
from people that we haven’t
DUNWOODY
Police raise $7,231 for Special Olympics
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Dunwoody’s police
department participated in the
2019 Polar Plunge Feb. 23 at
Acworth Beach to raise funds
for Special Olympics Georgia.
Approximately 20
participating officers and staff
dressed as chimney sweeps
from Mary Poppins to run into
cold water to show support
to Special Olympics Georgia
athletes.
Dunwoody Police
Department won the law
enforcement division in the tug
of war competition, beating
Cobb County Police.
Robert Parsons,
Dunwoody Police
Department sergeant and
public information officer,
said that the department has
met, and we wanted to tell
some of the stories.”
Holmes said eight residents
were interviewed for the
documentary. The film’s title
refers to the main streets of the
neighborhood—Clark Drive,
Herbert Drive, Peters Road
and Ramey Road—which
were first built more than a
half-century ago. Each street
was named for a family who
lived in the neighborhood.
Peters Park is home to
102-year-old Annie Bell
Bailey, who was featured in
The Champion in September
2018. Bailey is the oldest
known resident of Peters
Park. In the 1950s, she was a
member of Tucker Community
Action Group, which fought
to bring water and sewer lines,
natural gas, street lights and
other services to the Peters
Park community.
“We didn’t have [any]
lights, no water, no gas, we
didn’t have anything,” she
said.
Bailey said some of the
local churches worked with
Tucker Community Action
Group to bring those services
to the community. The county
heard the community’s
concerns and began to provide
those services as well as pave
been involved with the Polar
Plunge since the department’s
inception in 2009, adding that
Special Olympics Georgia has
traditionally partnered with
law enforcement throughout
Georgia for multiple events.
Parsons has been a participant
in the polar plunge for several
years.
“Everyone is pretty
excited,” Parsons said.
“There’s been a lot of costume
talk and we always want to
win the costume competitions.
We’re trying to be the
number one law enforcement
fundraising team. “
For last year’s Polar
Plunge, the department dressed
as superheroes.
According to Parsons,
the department also does the
Law Enforcement Torch Run
and several other fundraisers
SEE OLYMPICS ON PAGE 9
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 2
roads.
Four Streets will premiere
on Tucker’s Facebook page
on Feb. 28, and a special
preview screening will be held
on Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. at Tucker
Recreation Center.
“Once we have the
premiere screening, we’re
going to reach out to the
schools—Tucker High School
and Tucker Middle School—
and see what their interest is
in screening it for the students
because it’s important history,”
Holmes said. The film’s title refers to the main streets in the neighborhood—Clark Drive, Herbert
Holmes said he hopes Drive, Peters Road (pictured) and Ramey Road.
viewers learn from this film
how important the Peters Park
community was and still is to
residents.
“It’s a neighborhood that
maybe a lot of people don’t
know about,” he said. “You
often hear it referred to as the
neighborhood by Sam’s Club
and it didn’t always used to
be that way. So, that’s one
of the things the movie gets
into—it wasn’t always the
neighborhood by Sam’s Club.
Hopefully, they will get to
see how that part of Tucker
used to be and all of the really
cool things that are happening
now.”
Peters Park, a historic Black community, will be featured in Tucker’s first
documentary film, Four Streets. Photos by Carla Parker
Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan leads tug-of-war against Cobb County Police Department. Photos provided by Dunwoody Police
Department
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 3

Attendees at Burnaway’s annual Art Crush art show admire local artists’ work Feb. 16. Silk screenings of the work of event honoree Jiha Moon being made during Buraway’s Art Crush.
Photos provided by Burnaway.

ART Continued From Page 1A

Contemporary Art Center. custom installation by James─a unites a lot of cultures is the love of that having a diverse voice and
Art Crush not only celebrated Chamblee resident─that was grilling out.” different prospective is critical to
Southern art, but also the inspired by Chinese lanterns. According to Nelson, Burnaway thriving communities and good
Lunar New Year during the “Since the event was just off of wants to create a platform for both leadership and I think nationally this
event─embacing the Year of the Pig Buford Highway we really wanted new talent and those well known in is a moment to bring artists who fall
to bring together the Southern love to embrace that Buford Highway is the art world throughout the South. outside of the traditional cities into
of pork. this amazing multicultural corridor,” “I think that right now in all the bigger picture of leading art in
The art show also featured a Nelson said. “And the thing that sectors people are understanding the country,” Nelson said.

REDUCE • REUSE • RECYCLE

OPINION
The strange phenomenon of blackface
My high school and college years
were the at-times tumultuous ‘70s,
which novelist Tom Wolfe referred
to as the “Me” decade in an essay
written for New York Magazine in
1976.
Though I was born and raised in
a small north Georgia town, in my
early years I had plenty of Black
friends and neighbors. We often
socialized together and considered
each other to be close friends.
The recent uptick in reporting
of prominent people who have at
one point in their lives made the
decision to don blackface makeup
got me thinking about my personal
experiences. I too have a confession
to make.
I don’t recall exactly how old
we were, but when we were both
very young, myself and my Black
friend who lived on the farm across
the road decided we wanted to
temporarily trade places. We went
to my house and got powdered
chocolate mix and a bag of white
flour and snuck into the woods to
try our experiment. I rubbed my
John Hewitt
johnh@dekalbchamp.com
skin with the powdered chocolate
mix, and he rubbed his skin with
the white flour. I don’t recall much
else other than when we went to my
house to show my siblings what we
had done, there was a lot of laughter
at our expense as they made fun of
us both.
Our efforts to change our
appearances were not based on a
lack of respect for those of the other
race but more of a genuine effort to
see ourselves and each other from a
different perspective.
As I grew older, I often dated
Black girls while in high school
and college and in 1976 was asked
to leave a fraternity party at the
University of Georgia because I
brought a biracial date to the party.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 4
However, during my college years,
my circle of friends were mainly
White guys. We were a wild bunch
and often did things we shouldn’t
have done, but never did I know of
anyone who donned blackface. That
concept never even occurred to me
as something that I would consider
doing and I would probably have
expressed outrage at any friends
who may have attempted such a
gesture.
I wonder why men such as
Virginia governor Ralph Northam
and attorney general Mark Herrin
ever participated in any similar
activities. Even as college students,
most of us had moral standards
that would have prohibited us from
participating in behavior that would
likely be seen by others as both
hurtful and humiliating.
It baffles me to attempt to
understand what motivated Northam
and Herrin to don blackface to
begin with, but even more baffling
is the fact that they allowed
photographs to be taken of them
that for both men ultimately were
published in yearbooks. I also
place some responsibility on school
administrators who allowed such
photographs to be published. Even
though the students exhibited poor
judgment in appearing in blackface,
an adult should, or could, have
intervened and prohibited the photos
from being recorded for posterity.
Early in life I was taught to
respect others and to never do
anything intentionally that would
be seen as offensive by others.
There were no specific guidelines
prohibiting us from making
ourselves up to appear as a Black
person, those guidelines were not
necessary because the issue was
never considered.
For all the social criticism
often directed toward the South
during the difficult years following
desegregation, I’m proud to say that
neither I nor any of my friends—to
my knowledge—ever participated in
something as demeaning as wearing
dark makeup in an effort to appear
as a person of color.
OPINION
“I will work this week to
assemble a bi-partisan advisory
group to examine the need for this
law (Legislative Leave) and make
recommendations for any changes.
We will ask the group to take a look
at practices in other states with
part-time legislatures. This group
will consist of legislators, judges
(active and retired), prosecutors,
members of the legal community
and citizens,” said Georgia House
Speaker David Ralston from the
well of the State House, in a brief
address to the Georgia General
Assembly on Monday, February 25,
2019.
The real criminal justice system
isn’t an episode of Law and Order,
the system doesn’t move rapidly
from crime to arrest, trial and then
verdict in 60 minutes.
Remember the Brian Nichols
case in Fulton County? Awaiting his
own trial, Nichols broke free from
his jailer, took his weapon, shot and
killed the judge and bailiff, then
went on a shooting spree and chase
across two counties. This case was
not exactly a low priority for the
Fulton County District Attorney’s
office. Nichols was arrested several
days after the shootings. Time to
trial—three years, eight months.  represents most of his clients point,
 Much has recently been made
in Atlanta media of the use of
legislative leave for continuing
court cases or rescheduling court
appearances for clients of House
Speaker David Ralston. Ralston,
a sole practitioner and “country
lawyer” for 39 years, as well as
speaker of the house for nearing a
decade, runs a general law practice
out of his offices in Blue Ridge.  growing region can be three to four
During the past two years, 21
clients represented by Ralston
had their court appearances
continued, delayed or rescheduled
57 times. During roughly the same
period, Ralston disposed of and
completed 23 other cases. As is
often the case with investigative
reporting containing a blend of
editorial sentiment, the news reports
did not include any reference to
the criminal or other cases which
Ralston took fully through the
courts, nor acknowledge that
several of the 57 continuances were
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 5
Speaking up for the speaker
man of integrity.  not wait to be rid of one-time
I’ve known every Georgia house party wunderkind, former U.S.
‘One Man’s speaker since Tom Murphy, and House Speaker Paul Ryan, who
Opinion’ in many ways this man stands head
and shoulders above the rest. He
voluntarily left the U.S. House,
absent any scandal, at the end of
also has a solid track record on 2018. Well, they got their wish, new
Bill Crane issues impacting victims of violent U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
bill.csicrane@gmail.com crime, including expanded funding
and GBI Crime Lab personnel to Bill Crane also serves as a
deal with the long backlog of rape political analyst and commentator
requested by court clerks, as well kits and earlier acts aimed at sexual for Channel 2’s Action News, WSB-
as the judge or prosecutor’s offices, predators. Examining his complete AM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5
and not Ralston. record, including years in the state FM, as well as a columnist for The
 “I fully appreciate the situation Senate, state House and as speaker, Champion, DeKalb Free Press and
that lawyers who live outside the demonstrate a career of servant Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb
commuting area run into at the leadership and public service. native and business owner, living
General Assembly. I know David  In Washington, many House in Scottdale. You can reach him
Ralston. I know he’s an honorable Republicans and more conservative or comment on a column at bill.
person, and I know, as soon as members of the GOP Caucus could csicrane@gmail.com.
possible, he’s going to dispose of
those cases,” said Gov. Nathan
Deal.
 Deal was joined by former
Democratic governor Roy
Barnes–another lawyer and former
member of the State House and
Senate–who defended Ralston
and other legislators making use
of the Legislative Leave Act, for
the purpose of rescheduling court
appearances.
 Other longtime, legal veterans
of the judicial circuit, where Ralston
out that particularly in criminal
cases, the judge and prosecutors
prioritize the trials of defendants
in custody and awaiting trial in a
county jail. The courts move those
in custody to the front of the line,
while the court dates of those on
bail/bond slip forward along the
calendar. The typical wait for a case
to come to trial in this still fast-
years. 
 Two of the more controversial
cases and clients represented by
Ralston have had court dates set
since November 2018–after a
meeting of Ralston with the court
and prosecutor’s offices–for trial
dates in May and June 2019,
following completion of the current
legislative session. Surprisingly also
not mentioned in the recent hostile
coverage. 
Ralston is not perfect, and as I
have often said in this space, we
should not seek perfection in our
leaders. But he is a good man and a
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 6

COUNTYWIDE COUNTYWIDE

Gangs can’t be only ones

recruiting teens, CEO says
New grant aimed at helping youth in DeKalb

DeKalb County Police Chief James Conroy speaks to a group of graduating officers
DeKalb County officials announced DeKalb County Juvenile Court received a $1.1 DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond during the 115th DeKalb Police Academy ceremony Feb. 22. Photos by Horace
million YouthBuild Grant to provide paid internships and training for teens in the talks to a crowd at the DeKalb County Holloman
county. Photos by Horace Holloman Juvenile Court during a press conference.

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com laughing.
“We plan to spend every
penny,” Crawford said,
DeKalb County CEO
Michael Thurmond said
employment for teens can help
Chief reflects on career
The DeKalb County The grant will allow curb criminal activity. body worn cameras and our
Juvenile Court received a $1.1 DeKalb County Juvenile Court “One thing we are BY HORACE HOLLOMAN 21st century policing is an
million YouthBuild Grant to to partner with the Solicitor- committed to is that the drug horace@dekalbchamp.com example of increasing trust,”
provide paid internships and General’s office, WorkSource dealers, bangers, pimps and Conroy said.
training for teens in the county. DeKalb and other community pushers can’t be the only ones DeKalb County Police Conroy has served as
County leaders and DeKalb organizations to provide paid putting our kids to work,” Chief James Conroy said he the DeKalb County chief
County Juvenile Court Chief occupational skills training Thurmond said. “We can’t announced his plans to retire of police since December
Judge Vincent Crawford and internships, according to allow that to happen. This will during an awards banquet Dec. 2013. Conroy’s retirement
held a press conference Feb. county officials. be a fight for our children.” 13. Later that evening, DeKalb will become official April 30.
21 to discuss how the grant is Crawford said the grant can DeKalb County Solicitor County officer Edgar Flores DeKalb County CEO Michael
expected to impact the county.    help DeKalb youth prepare for General Donna Coleman- was fatally shot after a traffic Thurmond made Conroy’s
YouthBuild is a the next phase in life. Stribling said DeKalb youth stop. retirement public Feb. 21.
community-based education “We’re living in a global need positive outlets in the Conroy said Flores’ death “Chief Conroy is an
program for teens ages 16 economy now and you’re community. was confirmation it was time example of the best DeKalb
to 24. The three-year grant going to be paid based on what “This is an opportunity for the next phase in his career. County has to offer,”
was awarded by the U.S. you know, not what you think to engage with the youth,” In an interview with The Thurmond said in a statement.
Department of Labor. The you know,” Crawford said. Coleman-Stribling said. Champion, Conroy said “His selfless dedication to
program was created to help “This grant is special for us “That’s why we’re here today. improving the department is a public service and commitment
teens who are high school because for a lot of our young That’s why we’re excited “team effort.” to honesty, integrity and
dropouts, aging out of foster people it’s a first step toward about this partnership. Our “I’ve seen a lot of my professionalism has set an
care and are disabled or the opportunity of earning goal is to ensure we provide friends retire and it still example for all DeKalb
homeless, according to the some kind of certification services, connect, collaborate hasn’t sunk in yet that I’m employees.”
department of labor. that says you’re good at and continue the process that retiring,” Conroy said. “It Conroy said he never used
something.” has begun here.” probably won’t sink in until a sick day during his three
that last day. It will on that decades with DeKalb County
last day when I turn my Police Department because
gun in…I’m going to feel he enjoyed coming to work.
GOT A NEWS TIP?
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a little lost, but I know it’s
coming.”
Conroy also led the effort
Before he became police
chief, Conroy also worked
as a commander of the North
to increase public trust and Precinct, Special Victims
overall transparency of the
HORACE HOLLOMAN department’s activities,
Section, Information Services
Horace@DeKalbChamp.com Division and assistant chief of
Local news editor: covers county government according to county officials. the Support Services Division.
crime • courts • Decatur • Avondale Estates He managed the deployment of “My parents instilled a
officer body worn cameras and strong work ethic in me and I
led the transition of enhancing think it’s important to come to
CARLA PARKER public access to crime data work physically, mentally and
Carla@DeKalbChamp.com through a crime reporting
Sports editor: covers sports plus Stonecrest emotionally ready to do the
Clarkston • Lithonia • Stone Mountain • Tucker system, National Incident- job,” Conroy said.
Based Reporting. DeKalb County is
“I hope that I fostered an conducting a nationwide
environment that increased
TAYLOR ROBINS trust and transparency within
search for a new chief of
Taylor@DeKalbChamp.com police.
Education editor: covers all things education-related the community. I think with
Brookhaven • Doraville • Chamblee • Dunwoody • Pine Lake.
TheCHAMPION
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 7

WEEK in PICTURES

Decatur Police Sgt. John Bender poses for a photo with a group of children while on patrol. Photo by Decatur Police. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond congratulates Robert Gordon, deputy
director of DeKalb County’s fleet management for taking the top spot in the 100
Best Fleets in North America.

Perimeter Mall’s Von Maur store held a fashion show and clothing auction Feb. 19 to help raise money for the Dunwoody Garden Desi Banks, a comedian and a graduate of Cedar Grove High School,
Club. Funds will go toward landscaping projects at Brook Run Park, Dunwoody Library and Windwood Hollow Park. Photo provided visited Barack Obama Elementary Magnet School of Technology to read to
by Dunwoody Twitter Page. students Feb. 20. Photo provided by Barack Obama Elementary Magnet
School of Technology Twitter.

Have you created programming you’d like to air on TV?

Do you have an interest in Public Access TV in DeKalb County?
Submit your show to DeKalb County’s Public Access channel, DeKalb 25.
Drop off DVD or USB copies to the Manuel J. Maloof Center at
1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030, or upload your content via the internet.

(404) 371-2325 DeKalb25@outlook.com DeKalb25.com

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 8

COUNTYWIDE

Real estate executive honored by

organization that once banned her
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
When Bobbie Kennedy Sanford
of Sanford Realty was inducted this
month into the Georgia Realtors
Association (GRA) Hall of Fame,
she continued a string of trailblazing
events that characterized the real estate
business she and her husband, the late
Porter Sanford III, founded more
than half a century ago. When Sanford
Realty opened in 1965, it became
the first minority-owned real estate
company in DeKalb County.
Sanford’s induction into the GRA
Hall of Fame makes her the first
African American to be so honored.
“At the time we went into the real
estate business, Black people were not
allowed to become Realtors. There
was a Black professional organization
called the National Association of
Real Estate Brokers. There was where
we went for professional training and
recognition,” she recalled.
Real estate professionals could
only join the Georgia Realtors
Association with the backing of an
existing member, Sanford explained,
adding that before the 1980s, the state’s
White Realtors showed no interest in
nominating their Black colleagues to
the Realtors association. “The person
who helped us break that barrier was
Ed Isakson, the father of Sen. Johnny
Bobbie Kennedy Sanford
Isakson, who like the senator was in
the real estate profession.
“Although we were allowed to
join the Georgia Realtors Association,
I can’t say members welcomed us
with open arms at the meetings. It’s
good that my husband and I had each
other, or we would have had no one
to talk with. It didn’t really matter, we
came to the meetings for professional
development, not to socialize,” she
said.
Sanford met her husband when
they were students at Clark College,
now Clark Atlanta University. She was
training to become a teacher, while
he majored in business. “One of his
mentors advised him to go into real
estate, and after working briefly in the
insurance business, he did. I eventually
joined him, securing my agent’s and
broker’s licenses.”
Her credentials as a real estate
executive allowed Sanford to keep
the agency running during the
years her husband was a DeKalb
County commissioner. “His work
as a commissioner took so much of
his time there is no way he could
have kept an agency this size going
while serving the county as a super
district commissioner,” she said of
her husband, who was elected the first
African-American presiding officer of
the commission.  “I believe they were also looking
Sanford Realty, which started as a
five-agent office on Memorial Drive, at
its peak had 75 agents, accounting for
millions of dollars of real estate sales in
the metropolitan Atlanta area, Sanford
said, explaining that the agency, now
on Snapfinger Woods Drive, has
downsized since her husband’s death.
“As we grew the agency, we trained
each agent we brought in to meet
the standards of professionalism and
integrity that have been our hallmarks
from the beginning. I really don’t have
the time to do all that we used to do
together, so I no longer bring in new
agents.”
One son has come into the agency
and Sanford said he will determine its
direction when he takes over, though
she said she’s not thinking of retiring.
“The joke among real estate people
is that we never retire—we just fade
away,” she said.
Sanford is one of four members
inducted this year into the Hall of
Fame. According to GAR’s website,
its Hall of Fame “recognizes
members who have demonstrated
consistent support of the REALTOR®
organization for at least 30 years,
and who have had a strong influence
in the real estate industry…. These
individuals set the bar for the Hall
of Fame, having proven themselves
as champions of the REALTOR®
association and captains of industry.” 
at our community service. We always
tried to do more than run a successful
business; we also worked to build a
stronger community,” Sanford said.
Calling the induction “a true
honor,” Sanford added she is even
more gratified by all that she and her
husband did for others over the years.
“I am most proud that we were able
to help so many families achieve the
American dream of home ownership—
especially those who had never thought
it would be possible for them,” she
said.

OLYMPICS
Continued From Page 2
that raise money for Special Olympics.
However, the Polar Plunge is the police
department’s biggest event.
The groups raised the money by using
social media and asking people to donate.
The original goal for the department was to
raise $10,000. By Feb. 20, the group was
on track to meet its goal as it had raised
$7,000, according to Parsons.
“We’ve had years where it’s been really
cold and close to freezing probably and we
have years like this year where it might not
be too bad,” Parsons said on Feb. 20. “It
gets really cold. I remember the first time I
did it the water took my breath out of me.”
The event also featured live music, food
and prizes for attendees.
Law requires drivers to stop for school buses on multi-lane roads
BY TAYLOR ROBINS the road unless the roads are
separated by a grass median,
taylor@dekalbchamp.com unpaved area or physical
barrier.
Drivers in Georgia will
Fines and penalties for
now have to stop on both sides
violating SB 25 include a
for school buses loading and
possible court appearance, a
unloading students—even
fine of up to $1,000, four points
on multi-lane roads—as the
on the driver’s driving record
result of a measure Gov. Brian
and license suspension for
Kemp signed into law Feb. 15.
drivers under the age of 21.
Senate Bill 25─reversing
A $250 civil penalty could
the unintended language from
be imposed for violating the
HB978 from last year─ states
school bus law.
that drivers in both directions
Tickets will be issued to the
on two-lane and multi-lane
owner of the vehicle.
roads with a center turn lane
must stop for school buses
NOTE: the law already
picking and dropping students
required that traffic stop on
off. The law went into effect
both sides of the road for
immediately after the bill was
loading and unloading school
signed.
buses. What is new is that it
Drivers must stop for school Drivers on both sides of road must stop for buses loading and
is now required on multi-lane
buses on the opposite side of unloading students. Photo by Taylor Robins
roads.
EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 9

COUNTYWIDE

Locked Out honored at student film festival

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com

DeKalb County School District rolled out

the red carpet and brought out the popcorn
for its first student film festival at the Robert
R. Freeman Administrative & Instructional
Complex Auditorium Feb. 21.
A total of 31 student films were split into
beginner, intermediate and advance film
categories. For each category, one film had a
chance of winning the Audience Choice and
Judges’ Choice categories. All films were
judged for the “Best in Show” award.
Paranormal themes were popular; however,
silent films, comedy, music videos and public
service announcements were also showcased.
Locked Out, a paranormal film in the
advanced category won three awards:
audience choice, judges’ choice and best in
show. DeKalb School of the Arts students
Kriss Nash, Stephanie Henderson, Aidan
Gates Shields and Celisse Pompey created
the film.
Students from Arabia Mountain, Chamblee Creators of “Locked Out” after winning three awards at DeKalb County School District’s inaugural student film festival Feb. 21. Photo provided by DeKalb
Charter, Columbia, DeKalb High School of County School District
Technology South, DeKalb School of the Arts,
Dunwoody, Lakeside, Miller Grove, McNair,
Southwest DeKalb, Stephenson, Towers,
Tucker High and Tucker Middle School
participanted in the showcase.
Among beginner films, Invisible, created
by DeKalb School of the Arts students Brooke
Moseley, Joy Carpenter, Anaya Bridges,
Havilland Kelly and Nia Johnson won
judges’ choice; Joust, created by Lakeside
High School students Aziz Philips, Christen
Jarman, Annette Heredia, Nora Comtois,
Alex Rugama Vasquez and Sydney Mills
won audience choice.
Among intermediate films, Blind Spot
created by DeKalb School of the Arts students
Zahra Ahmed, Cathy Clemenceau, Ana
Gates Shields, Annaleah Seaufert and
Roman Scott won judges’ choice; Sciophobia
created by Lakeside High School students
Jemia Johnson, Ethan David Kene, Tanjuah
Middlebrooks, Trey Morse, Rashaud Smith,
Braden Webb and Lucas Uyeda-Alacorn Awards presented to winners in the DCSD student film festival. Photo provided by DeKalb County School District
won audience choice.
“This is another fantastic example of
DeKalb County School District staying in step
with fruitful, innovative industries in the metro
Atlanta area,” said DCSD superintendent R.
Stephen Green. “The television and film
industries have proven in recent years that they
are here to stay. As a school district promising
the best opportunities for our students, we
are poised to offer courses in production and
foster our students’ artistic talent. This will
truly be a great opportunity to witness our
students soaring to new heights.”
Judges for the event were actor Mark
Ashworth, actor Matthew Cornwell, Fox
Casting owner Jessica Fox-Thigpen, actor
Eric Goins, director Bobby Huntley, actor
Jason MacDonald, producer Maggie Mock,
set designer Justin O’Neal Miller, actress
Angela Raye, actor Barry Stoltze, and Crazy
Legs Productions Chief Operating Officer
Scott Thigpen. Judges watch student films during the film festival. Photo provided by DeKalb County School District
LOCAL

AROUNDDeKalb
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 10

COUNTYWIDE
‘Parents University’ announced
DeKalb County School District is inviting
families to the district’s free Parent University
event.
Parent University will feature district experts
speaking on such subjects as behavior services,
preschool special education, post-secondary
transition, hospital homebound services and
low incidence services.
Parent University will take place at 5839
Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain from 11 a.m.
until 1 p.m. on March 2
College fair open to DCSD students
DCSD students will have an opportunity to
meet with college representatives from across
the country during a college fair March 1.
The fair—held in partnership with Georgia
State University and Probe College Tours—will
be held at Georgia State University’s Perimeter
College Campus, located at 3251 Panthersville
Road in Decatur, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
College recruiters will be on site to discuss
admissions, financial aid and student life.
CLARKSTON
Library to host wire wrapping jewelry class
Visitors can learn how to make pendants out
of stones, shells and unusually shaped beads
using artisan wire March 9 at the Clarkston
Library 1 to 3 p.m. The library is located at 951
North Indian Creek Drive. For more information,
call (404) 508-7175.
STONE MOUNTAIN
Masonic Lodge to host breakfast
The Stone Mountain Masonic Lodge will host
its monthly breakfast March 2 from 7:30 to 10
a.m. The breakfast is $7 for all you can eat. The
lodge is located at 840 VFW Drive. For more
information, visit www.stonemountaincity.org.
TUCKER
City to celebrate Pi Day
Tucker will celebrate Pi Day with a Pi K
March 14 at Tucker Recreation Center. Start
times are 10 a.m., noon, 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.
March 14 is designated as Pi Day because the
date numerically corresponds to the Greek
letter pi, the symbol used in mathematics to
represent the ratio of the circumference of a
circle to its diameter, which is approximately
3.14. The recreation center is located at 4898
Lavista Road. For more information, visit www.
tuckerga.gov.

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SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 11

WRESTLING PLAYOFF BASKETBALL SCORES

(Sweet 16 round)

Feb. 20

Class 6A Girls
Glynn Academy 50, Stephenson 35

Class 5A Boys
Southwest DeKalb 63, Carrollton 51

Class 5A Girls
Columbia 59, Cass 43
Southwest DeKalb 53, Rome 39
Stone Mountain’s Daisy Gilleylen, third left, finished second in the girls’ 136-weight class championship. Photo by Lester Wright Villa Rica (29-0) 60, Arabia Mountain
(20-6) 52

Gilleylen hopes to inspire Class 4A Girls

Flowery Branch 67, St. Pius X 19

more girls to wrestle Class 3A Boys

Cedar Grove 68, Calhoun 51

Feb. 21
BY CARLA PARKER a practice,” Tillery said. “She Tillery also said there are
really worked hard, and she college scholarships available
Carla@dekalbchamp.com really likes the sport.” for female wrestlers. Class 6A Boys
Gilleylen said she started “[Colleges] are really looking
Girls’ participation in
wrestling as a young girl after for girls,” he said. “Georgia is Tucker 65, Evans 63 2OT
wrestling has grown over the
watching her older brothers now known to produce good
past few years in DeKalb County
wrestle and wrestling with them. wrestlers, so I think there will be
and in Georgia.
“Once I first started a lot of colleges looking at girls Class 5A Boys
Previously, girls would
wrestle against boys in meets,
[wrestling] it seemed really fun that come out of Georgia.” Lithonia 67, Rome 54
and I couldn’t stop after that,” Since her second-place finish
but for the first time in state
she said. at state, Gilleylen said other girls
history the Georgia High
School Association (GHSA)
Gilleylen wrestled her have come to her expressing Class 4A Boys
freshman year, mostly interest in wrestling for Stone
held its girls’ state wrestling
competing against boys. She said Mountain. St. Pius X 63, Marist 50
championship Feb. 13-16 in
wrestling against boys made her “There have been a lot
Macon. Among the girl wrestlers
tough. of people who said I have
to compete in championship
“When I [started wrestling influenced them to wrestle and Class 4A Girls
matches were Stone Mountain
sophomore Daisy Gilleylen and
other girls] I saw that they’re I do want to build a girls team Marist 51, Madison County 44
also tough too,” she said. “But I next year,” she said. “A couple
Stephenson’s Kiomy Morris.
have a little advantage because of girls have talked to me lately
Gilleylen (13-6) placed
second in the 136-weight-class
I’ve always wrestled against [and said] they want to join the Class 1A-Private Boys
boys instead of girls.” wrestling team because of me.”
after falling to Camden County’s
Tillery said there is no She also said that she has Greenforest 75, Hebron Christian 58
Alexa Downs in an 11-3 major
difference in coaching girls or received many praises from
decision. Morris (9-3) also won
boys. people all over DeKalb County.
a silver medal after being pinned
“I’m so used to [girls] “It feels amazing because now Class 1A-Private Girls
by North Forsyth’s Sophia
Eglian in the 146-weight-class
wrestling with the boys,” he I know that my name is known Holy Innocents’ 76, Greenforest 35
said. “Even at the youth level everywhere,” she said. “I get
championship match.
girls wrestle boys.” congratulated every single day,
Gilleylen said she was
Tillery said girls’ wrestling everybody is always calling me
disappointed with the outcome
has grown over the years and a champ, which also feels really
of the match, but said it felt
will continue to grow. amazing.
good to compete at the state
“Most of the time, parents Gilleylen has already
championships.
don’t like their girls wrestling predicted that she will be a state
“It felt really amazing
boys and [many] boys are champion next season.
because I’ve always dreamed
hesitant to wrestle girls,” he said. “Next year, I am going to
about going to state,” she said.
“So, I think [girls wrestling] place first,” she said. “I’m the
Stone Mountain coach
will grow a lot, to having an type of person to never give
Jerome Tillery said Gilleylen
all-girls team. This year was the up, but also at the same time I
really tries hard.
first year and I think they had see myself getting better next
“She was the captain [of the
over 300 to 400 girls at the state year because I’m going to work
team] because she never missed
tournament.” harder this summer.”
SPORTS
BASKETBALL
Nine teams advance to Elite Eight
BY CARLA PARKER
Carla@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County is still well
represented as the Georgia High
School Association state basketball
playoffs move into the next round.
Nine DeKalb County teams
advanced to the Elite Eight round
of the playoffs after victories in the
Sweet 16 round. The Elite Eight
matchups were held Feb. 26-27.
Final scores from the games were not
available by press time.
In the Class AAAAAA playoffs,
the Tucker Tigers needed two
overtimes to eke out a 65-63 win over
Evans at home on Feb. 21. Senior
Nick Watson led the team with 18
points, followed by junior Jermontae
Hill with 15 points and Braylen
Seals with 11 points.
The No. 6-ranked Tigers hosted
Gainesville in the Elite Eight.
In Class AAAAA, Columbia girls,
Lithonia boys and Southwest DeKalb
boys and girls advanced to the Elite
Eight. The Columbia Lady Eagles
defeated Cass 59-43 at home Feb. 20
in the Sweet 16. Junior Constance
Thomas led all scorers with 22
points and sophomore India Terrell
added 20 points. Columbia hosted
No. 10-ranked Wayne County in the
Elite Eight.
The No. 8-ranked Lithonia
Bulldogs advanced to the Elite Eight
after a 67-54 win over Rome Feb. 21.
Junior Eric Gaines led the team with
27 points. Lithonia traveled to face
No. 9-ranked Warner Robins in the
Elite Eight.
No. 3-ranked Southwest DeKalb
Panthers advanced to the Elite Eight
after a 63-51 win over Carrollton
Feb. 20 in the Sweet 16. Junior
Kadarius Johnson led the team
with 20 points, seven rebounds and
six steals. The Panthers hosted No.
5-ranked Woodland-Stockbridge in
the next round.
No. 5-ranked Southwest DeKalb
Lady Panthers defeated Rome 53-39
in the Sweet 16 round Feb. 20. Senior
Lanee Edwards led the team with
a game-high 20 points. The Lady
Panthers hosted Griffin in the Elite
Eight round.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 12
In Class AAAA, Marist’s Lady
War Eagles went on the road and
upset No. 5-ranked Madison County
51-44 in the Sweet 16 Feb. 21. Marist
went on the road again to face No.
4-ranked Spalding in the Elite Eight.
No. 3-ranked St. Pius X took
down rival Marist 63-50 in the Sweet
16 round Feb. 21. St. Pius hosted No.
7-ranked Americus-Sumter in the
Elite Eight.
No. 4-ranked Cedar Grove Saints
advanced to the Class AAA Elite
Eight round after a 68-51 win over
Calhoun in the Sweet 16 on Feb. 20.
Sophomore Jamarcus Glover led
the team with a double-double of 16
points and 10 rebounds. The Saints
hosted No. 5-ranked Windsor Forest
in the Elite Eight.
No. 2-ranked Greenforest Eagles
advanced to the Class A-Private
Elite Eight round after a 75-58 win
over Hebron Christian in the Sweet
16. Greenforest traveled to face No.
4-ranked Mt. Bethel in the Elite
Eight. Southwest DeKalb junior Kadarius Johnson led the team with
20 points, seven rebounds and six steals in the Panthers 63-
51 win over Carrollton in the Sweet 16. Photo by Mark Brock