VOLUME 21 NUMBER 12 FREE JUNE 20, 2015

Joshua Smith/OCG News

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

District 5 Runoff page 10

Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News

Mereda Johnson, George Turner headed to runoff for DeKalb’s District 5 seat

Mereda Johnson hugs a supporter at her party.

By Valerie J. Morgan

Mereda Davis Johnson, an attorney and wife of Congressman Hank Johnson, dominated the DeKalb Coun-ty District 5 Commission race in the June 16 Special Election, receiving 1,239 votes (27 percent).

George Turner, a retired MARTA manager, placed second with 726 votes (16 percent). Since none of the 10 contestants in the race re-ceived 50 percent of the vote, Johnson and Turner will face one another in a runoff on July 14. Early voting begins June 29.

“I’m pumped up and ready to go,” Johnson said during a phone interview on Thursday, June 18, while relocating her campaign headquarters to the office complex where her law prac-tice is located on Flat Shoals Road in South DeKalb. “I

appreciate all of the voters who supported me. I will continue to work hard. I’m very excited and looking forward to the runoff.”

Johnson was sur-rounded by a crowd at her Election Watch Night Party, which was held at Jolie’s Event Center in Li-thonia. The crowd cheered as the results came in and Johnson thanked support-ers, saying her team was “awesome.” Congressman Hank Johnson joined his wife toward the end of the celebration after zig-zagging from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. and back. Earlier that day, the couple had voted together at the Ray of Hope Church precinct in Decatur before the congressman jetted off for business in D.C.

George Turner and his supporters met at Arizona’s restaurant in Lithonia for

the election results. Turner said he was pleased with the outcome and is now looking forward to the runoff.

“We had a very limited budget to reach voters. We did a lot of walking and putting information out in communities. I believe the

GPTC celebrates new transportation training center

By Joshua Smith

Georgia Piedmont Technical College(GPTC)

President Jabari Simama is touting the college’s new regional transportation training center as a “world-class” program for students pursuing careers in operating and repairing commercial trucks and buses.

Several dignitaries, including Congressman Hank Johnson, Matt Arthur, deputy commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, and MARTA General Manager/CEO Keith Parker were among those who attended a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 17 for the new 4,000-square-foot center, which has opened at 6720 Marbut Road in Lithonia.

“The training that will occur in this facility will provide more opportunities for our students. Our students will be qualified for an abundance and a wide variety of well-paying and abundant jobs in the transit and transportation industry,” said Simama. “The center will feature a world-class curriculum designed and tested by leading transit agency experts.”

Simama said the center was made possible through a $3 million Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career grant, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor through its Employment and Training Administration.

Although the college already serves more than 15,000 students on campuses in four counties, the new training center will broaden the reach of the college to provides Simama said. The

facility is the only transit training program in the Southeast accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

The center will train students to drive, operate and repair commercial trucks, buses and the heavy equipment used on them. Programs include commercial truck driving; electrical line workers apprentice; mobility/light vehicle technician; bus maintenance

technician; capital project development and planning; mobility operator para-transit training; and transportation management. Courses and degrees can be completed in two years or less. Salaries in the field are attractive: Commercial truck drives can earn about $40,000 a year starting out and within three years of driving, about $88,000 a year, according to

GPTC Traning Center page 10

George Turner

Praying for Charleston

By Valerie J. Morgan and Joshua Smith

Prayers from around the country are going up for Charleston, S.C. following the shooting massacre at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17.

Locally, several churches planned or held prayer vigils for the nine people who were killed during the church’s bible study. The Rev. Raphael Warnock of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church held an interfaith prayer vigil the day following the shooting, asking people of all faiths to recommit to peace. In Rockdale County, nine churches planned a joint 6 p.m. prayer vigil set for June 19 at Macedonia Baptist in Conyers under the leadership of Pastor Billie Cox.

“This is a tragedy not only for the people of Charleston but for freedom-loving people all over the world. It’s an assault on the faith community,” said Pastor Warnock. “We are witnessing in America a dangerous cocktail of racism, and other forms of bigotry, mental health issues and unfettered access to guns.”

Police arrested Dylann Storm Roof, 21, the morning after the shooting—June 18—in Shelby, S.C., about 245 miles from the church where the massacre occurred.

Police said Roof had sat with worshippers in the church’s sanctuary for an hour before he stood up and began firing, killing nine people attending the bible study.

Among those slaughtered were three men: Clementa Pinckney, a 41-year-old state senator who was pastor of the historic church; the Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, 49; and the Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr., 74. The six women killed were: Cynthia Hurd, 54; Susie Jackson, 87; Ethel Lance, 70; Tywanza Sanders, 26; Rev. Sharonda Singleton, 45; and Myra Thompson, 59.

Survivors of the shooting said Roof came to the church, asking for Pastor Pickney and sat next to him. Roof waited until just before the benediction to stand up and say, “I’m here to shoot black people,” before firing. Witnesses said he reloaded his weapon five times. For more on the story, visit www.ocgnews.com

Dylann Storm Roof

PAGE 2 •JUNE 20, 2015 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

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Two brothers sentenced to 20 Years for scamming seniors

Police crackdown in South DeKalb nets nearly 100 felony arrests

DeKalb County Police Department’s special operation along Covington Highway, Wesley Chapel Road and Panola Road corridors in South DeKalb has netted nearly 100 felony arrests.

Police say as a result of the crackdown, there has been a 44 percent reduction in violent crimes in these areas over the four-month period from February to May 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.

Police have made: •99 felony arrests •51 misdemeanor arrests •71 citation arrests •214 traffic citations •37 weapons recovered “This operation is a testament to the success that is obtainable in addressing crime concerns and improving quality of life in

DeKalb County when collaborative police and community relationships exist,” said Cedric Alexander, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of DeKalb County.

DeKalb police launched the operation after analyzing crime data and receiving feedback from residents and commercial businesses who complained about nuisances in the areas including illegal drug activity, prostitution, panhandling and traffic violations. The South-East Taskforce was established to address the problems and police started the crackdown in the targeted areas. The initiative, officials say, will extend throughout the summer.

Two brothers who scammed seniors out of tens of thousands of dollars have been

sentenced to 20 years to serve 10 behind bars and repay $100,000 in restitution.

Keith and Jeffrey Ogles solicited roofing work from four elderly homeowners and grossly overcharged them for the work, while damaging their roofs in the process, a spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office said. One of the victims was threatened when he refused to make any more payments. Another victim suffers from short-term memory loss and the defendants took advantage of that disability to repeatedly charge her for the same work.

“This pair deliberately preyed on elderly victims, who were all in their eighties, and demanded payments that reached over $130,000” said DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James. “This was a calculated scheme that targeted and exploited elderly homeowners. The Ogles lined their pockets with the money many of our victims worked a lifetime to accumulate.”

In November 2014, Wells Fargo alerted authorities to possible exploitation of an 89-year-old customer. The elderly woman, who suffers from memory loss, had attempted to withdraw $16,000 in cash. She said the money was to pay her roofer, Keith Ogles, who was in the parking lot because he had driven her to the bank. The APD Fraud Unit responded and discovered that the customer had paid the Ogles brothers

more than $40,000 for roofing work valued at less than $1,500. Further, the defendants damaged her roof and did the repair work incorrectly.

Further investigations led officers to another victim, an 85-year-old man who lives near Emory University.

“Jeffrey Ogles approached the victim and convinced him that he needed repairs, despite the fact that he had recently had a new roof installed. Over a four-month period, this victim paid $72,000 to Jeffrey and Keith Ogles for work that did not need to be done and which was worth approximately $1,500,” said Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jeanne Canavan, who oversees the Elder Exploitation Unit in DeKalb County. “When the victim tried to refuse further payments, the Ogles told him that if he didn’t pay, their company would tear up his roof.”

There were two more victims in the case, an elderly couple who paid the Ogles brothers more than $20,000 for roofing work that was later valued at only $2,000. The defendants returned on numerous occasions without invitation or appointment, each time asking for additional payments. On Nov. 24, 2014, the victims returned to their residence to find the Ogles brothers on the roof of their home, again without invitation. They called the police, who had already obtained arrest warrants for the defendants, and they were arrested on the scene.

James urges families to keep a close watch over their older loved ones.

“We all have to be vigilant in making sure that our parents and grandparents are not being taken advantage of and exploited by

criminals like the Ogles brothers,” said James, who hosts annual events for seniors to combat scams and schemes. “Far too often we hear of similar crimes that involve caregivers and even other family members who take advantage of vulnerable adults.”

Safety advice, Bingo and luncheon set for seniors

Seniors are invited to the Manuel Maloof Auditorium on June 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 1300 Commerce Drive for bingo, lunch and advice about staying safe. Solicitor-General Sherry Boston and members of her Special Victims Unit are hosting the Safety In Numbers Bingo event to educate seniors on the warning signs of abuse and what they need to do if they are in danger.

“Our seniors should be relaxing and enjoying their years of retirement, but sadly, victims of elder abuse live in fear, neglect or pain,” said Solicitor-General Sherry Boston, “We want to make sure anyone who might be in danger comes forward to get help. My Special Victims Unit can make sure seniors get the resources they need to stay safe.”

Safety in Numbers Bingo is being held in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which takes place every year on June 15, to raise awareness about neglect, physical, sexual, emotional and/or financial abuse affecting seniors.

Safety in Numbers Bingo is co-sponsored by AARP, WellCare, and The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, PC.

Jeffrey Ogles Keith Ogles

PAGE 4 • JUNE 20 2015 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

Coming Up

Little Heroes, Big Hearts” in Atlanta

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System’s Peachtree branch, 1315 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, will host “Little Heroes, Big Hearts” on Tuesday, June 30, 10:30 a.m.

This performance will feature storyteller Barry Stewart Mann and will include a collection of literary tales from favorite sources and authors, including Mary Pope Osborne’s The Brave Little Seamstress, Aesop’s “The Lion and the Mouse,” Bob Graham’s “Max,” Ogden Nash’s whimsical poem “The Tale of Custard the Dragon,” and a puppet version of Maya Angelo’s wonderful “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me.”

Barry Stewart Mann is a professional storyteller, educator, actor and writer based in Atlanta. He has been performing for nearly three decades, and brings a vibrant playfulness to his performances, workshops, and scripts.

A graduate of Harvard University and a master’s in fine arts degree in theater from the University of San Diego, Mann has performed on dozens of stages across the country; and performed before thousands in festivals, libraries, schools, camps, and beyond. 404-885-7830.

ATLANTA

Choice’s Sober Village celebrates sobrietyThe City of Atlanta and Choices Sober Village will host a festival to celebrate

sobriety on June 24, 2 p.m., 45 Luckie Street, Atlanta. Sober Village will sell recovery T-shirts, jewelry, and souvenirs.Lots of people, businesses and members of the recovery community will be

joining AA members representing 90 countries. Admission is free. www.choicessobervillage.com.

DEKALB

Town hall meetings set on mid-year budgetDeKalb County District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson and Interim CEO Lee

May will host two town hall meetings this month to discuss the county’s mid-year budget and new sanitation schedule.

The first town hall will be on July 9, 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Derwin Brown Me-morial South Precinct, 2842 H. F. Shepherd Drive, Decatur. The second town hall will be on July 23, 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the East Lake YMCA, 275 East Lake Blvd., S.E., Atlanta.

DeKalb offers free pet adoptions in June The LifeLine Animal Project is offering free pet adoptions in June. Any animal

at least 6-months-old and weighing 25 pounds, may be adopted from DeKalb County Animal Services (DCAS), located at 845 Camp Rd, Decatur.

Every pet will be spayed or neutered and receive all vaccines and a microchip – a $200 value – at no cost to its new pet parent. Adoption counselors will be on hand to answer questions and ensure animals are placed in good homes.

Managed by the LifeLine Animal Project, DeKalb County Animal Services provides humane care for animals at the shelter, veterinary care, pet adoptions, pet reclaim services, volunteer opportunities, foster care, and rescue group coordina-tion. To learn more, visit www.dekalbanimalservices.com.

To see pictures of available animals, and for adoption hours, visit www.dekalb-animalservices.com.

DeKalb hosts “Rolling Forward to One” sanitation meeting DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May and the DeKalb County Sanitation Division

will host an informational forum for community association leaders regarding the switch to one-day-a-week sanitation collection service on Wednesday, June 24, 6:30 p.m., at the Sanitation Division Transfer Station Administration Building, 3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur.

Once-a-week collection service is scheduled to begin on Monday July 6, even for customers who have not received their county-provided green garbage roll cart. Garbage, recycling and yard trimmings will all be collected on the same day.

Interim CEO May and representatives from the Sanitation Division will provide the latest updates on the County’s recently launched “Rolling Forward to One” one-day-a-week sanitation collection service change program. Event attend-ees will have an opportunity to ask questions.

“Sanitation collection services are one of the County’s core service areas that affect all residents. One of the County’s foremost priorities has been and continues to be discovering opportunities and implementing policies and procedures for im-proving sanitation service delivery and cost value to its residents, while remaining fiscally and environmentally responsible,” said Interim CEO May.

For more information, program updates and more details about the service change, including a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions (FAQ), visit the “Rolling Forward to One” program website at www.rollingforwardtoone.com.

GWINNETT

Brown Bag concert series in Lawrenceville The Gwinnett County Historic Courthouse, 185 West Crogan St., Lawrencev-

ille, is inviting families and children of all ages to the free “Brown Bag” Concert series.

Hosted at 11 a.m., the annual series will feature steel drum player Scott Doug-lass on July 10. Douglass has performed at almost every city throughout Georgia. In addition to the steel drum, he also plays piano, accordion and other percussion instruments besides the steel drum.

On Aug. 14, the series welcomes the “Princess and the Pea” musical. The mu-sical is an adaptation of the literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a young woman whose royal identity is established by a test of her physical sensitiv-ity. The story tells of a prince who wants to marry a princess, but is having difficul-ty finding a suitable wife.

You are invited to bring your own picnic-style lunch or purchase lunch on the square and enjoy the free performances. Children may enjoy free lawn games, face painting, crazy hair, and a crafting station. 770-822-5450.

Job readiness program set The Norcross Human Services Center, 5030 Georgia Belle Court, Norcross,

will host a free job readiness program for job seekers on Saturday, July 11, 9 a.m. – noon.

The one-day workshop will cover resume writing as well as interview skills. Workshop sponsored by Lift Up Atlanta Inc. To register for the workshop, call 678-225-5400 or email liftupatlanta@yahoo.com.

ROCKDALE

Rockdale groups to host annual food drive Rockdale Emergency Relief (RER) and Rockdale County-Fire Rescue (RCFR)

are encouraging the public’s participation in the second annual Community Food Drive on Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m. – 3p.m., at the Walmart Supercenter on 1436 Dogwood Drive, Conyers.

The food drive, which will benefit the RER Community Food Bank, will feature one of the county’s new fire trucks and a 1951 historic fire truck on display at store entrances for the whole family to touch and explore. The event will also include a visit from “Sparky the Fire Dog.”

Fire Chief Dan Morgan said last year’s event drew a crowd and he hopes this event will also be supported by a large turnout.

The RER Community Food Bank was founded in 1999 and operates as a full-service food bank, providing emergency food to low-income individuals and families. Last year, the food bank distributed 141,483 pounds of food, serving 3,012 households or 8,655 individuals.

For more information or to serve as a volunteer, call Susan Clark at 770-922-0165.

Free horse show set in Conyers The Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway,

Conyers, will host a horse show and competition on Saturday and Sunday, June 27-June 28, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. There will also be a pony competition and an award presentation for the trainer of the year.

The event will be held in the park’s arenas 4,5,6 and 7. The competition will feature both hunter and jumper horses. The two shows offer a $6,000 reward for competitors. Horses and their owners will compete on every level including begin-ners and advanced, as well as amateurs and professionals. The thoroughbreds will be judged on manners, fluid movement and correct jumping styles. 770-827-0175.

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Volunteers needed in Rockdale for storm drain marking

The Rockdale County Stormwater Utility is seeking individuals and groups to volunteer to mark storm drains in Rockdale’s waterways.

Rockdale is inviting anyone in the community to take part in the Storm Drain Stenciling Program by labeling the storm drains with “No Dumping, Drains to Streams” decals.

The colorful decals will be attached to a special adhesive that sticks well to storm drains. The decals will remind the general public not to dump or pour any-thing into storm drains.

Volunteers will be trained on the dangers of storm water pollution. Volunteers will be supplied with stenciling kits, and instructions on how to label the storm drains throughout the county.

Anyone is invited to participate, including civic groups, subdivisions, busi-nesses, churches, youth groups, individuals and families.

Participation in the stenciling program may qualify Rockdale residents a five percent Watershed Stewardship Stormwater Utility bill credit. Youths who partici-pate can receive community service hours.

For more information or to volunteer, call 770-278-7134 or email stormwater.events@rockdalecounty.org.

City of Atlanta announces new website celebrating city’s immigrants

Mayor Kasim Reed and the City of Atlanta’s Office of Immigrant Affairs have launched a new website, www.welcomingatlanta.com, to support Atlanta’s growing immigrant and foreign-born population.

Metropolitan Atlanta boasts the second-fastest growing foreign-born popula-tion in the United States. Last year, the City of Atlanta launched the Welcoming Atlanta initiative to bring together city government and community leaders to cre-ate a more welcoming and inclusive Atlanta that attracts and retains diverse talent.

“I am proud to announce the launch of the new Office of Immigrant Affairs and Welcoming Atlanta website,” said Mayor Reed. “Inclusiveness is part of Atlan-ta’s history and culture, and we know that our city is strongest when everyone feels welcomed and supported, and my Office of Immigrant Affairs will provide that support to Atlanta’s foreign-born residents.”

Officials say the Welcoming Atlanta website, www.welcomingatlanta.com, is a tool for all Atlantans, celebrating the contributions of Atlanta’s immigrant and refugee population and serves as a resource to facilitate integration for Atlanta’s foreign-born communities.

Free Summer Food Programs in DeKalb and RockdaleCheck out this listing @ www.ocgnews.com

Community celebration set for former DeKalb Superintendent Thurmond

The public is invited to celebrate the tenure of Superintendent Michael Thurmond on Thursday, June 25, 6 to 8 p.m. The celebration will take place at the school district’s headquarters, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd. Stone Mountain.

Thurmond is credited with stabilizing the school district amid budget deficits, a governance crisis that resulted in the removal of several board members, and a threat to the school district’s accreditation.

Under Thurmond’s leadership, the district’s accreditation has been restored, budget deficits have been transformed into surpluses, the governance crisis has subsided and the district’s board and administration have shifted from crisis mode to a focus on improv-ing educational outcomes for the district’s 100,000 students.

All are welcome to the farewell celebration for the DeKalb schools’ chief.

Registration under way for Be Someone Summer Leadership Chess Camp

As founder and the driving force behind the Be Someone (www.besomeone.org), mentoring program, Orrin Hudson works with young people, helping them to build productive, fulfilling futures.

Since founding the nonprofit, Be Someone, in 2001, Hudson has taught more than 40,000 kids across the nation the meaning of making every move count and the program continues to expand.

“My goal is to mentor 1 million students in all 50 states by 2020. I need the help of dedicated business people, community leaders and educators to continue this work,” Hudson said.

Hudson will be conducting a nine-week Summer Leadership Chess Camp for ages 6-19 June 22—Aug. 6. Half-day training will be offered 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and full-day training will be offered 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Be Someone Training Center, 949 Stephenson Road, Stone Mountain.

Investment for this world-class training is $99 per week for the half-day sessions and $149 per week for the full-day sessions. Early drop-off and late pick-ups are also available. Seats are limited. To enroll or sponsor a camper, call 770-465-6445 or e-mail orrin@besomeone.org.

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DeKalb asks public to name mobile farmers market

DeKalb County Government, the DeKalb County Extension and the DeKalb County Board of Health are asking the public for help to name the mobile farmers market launched last month. Set to start visiting

areas around the county on July 7, the mobile farmers market will carry fresh, affordable produce directly to residents.

Residents countywide have the opportunity to submit their names for the bus for consideration via a survey hosted. The @ItsInDeKalb and @HealthyDeKalb Twitter handles will host the link and promote the contest, June 26, 5 p.m. The top three contestants will receive $100 worth of free groceries. Entries will be ranked based on several factors, such as relevance to the mobile market’s mission and pur-pose. Community focus groups will assist in deciding the winner, and the winning name will become the mobile market’s new identity.

The official schedule for the mobile market is listed below. Pending funding, the mobile market is scheduled to operate on a 16-week schedule for three years, with the possibility of additional locations and dates to be announced.

Dates Times Location

Tuesdays, July 7-Oct. 20 10 a.m. REACH Community Development Center6212-B Memorial Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Tuesdays, July 7-Oct. 20 4 p.m. Hamilton Recreation Center3263 Chapel Street Scottdale, GA 30079

Wednesdays, July 8-Oct. 21 11 a.m. Hairston Lake Apartments1023 North Hairston Road Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Wednesdays, July 8-Oct. 21 2 p.m. Spring Chase II4947 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Thursdays, July 9-Oct. 22 11 a.m. Austin Community Development Center1989 Austin DriveDecatur, GA 30032

Thursdays, July 9-Oct. 22 4 p.m. Midway Recreation Center 3181 Midway Road Decatur, GA 30032

The DeKalb County Board of Health is providing grant funding to DeKalb County and DeKalb County Extension through the LEAD DeKalb Program. This program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Ra-cial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) initiative to promote healthy eating and physical activity and help improve health and reduce health disparities for residents in DeKalb County.

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Joshua Smith/OCG News The Tau Pi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. awarded seven high school graduates scholarships to help with college costs

Tau Pi Omega AKAs honor 7 outstanding high school graduates

Seven high school graduates received scholarships and a “survival kit” to help them

prepare for college, thanks to The Council For Community Enrichment, Inc. of the Tau Pi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

The sorority awarded $7,350 in scholarships to students who competed from throughout the metro Atlanta area. The honors program, which recognized the students for their academic achieve-ments and community service, was held on June 13 at Lithonia High School.

“We screened more than 30 ap-plicants for these scholarships and selected seven of the brightest, most engaging, outstanding, well-round-ed, phenomenal students from across metro Atlanta,” said Chapter Council for Community Enrichment Chairman

Beverly Johnson. The students’ survival kit includ-

ed school supplies, first aid items, snacks and messages to let the students know how special they are. The soror-ity hosted several fundraisers for the scholarships and also received money through grants and donations from the community.

The Tau Pi Omega chapter of Al-pha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. honored the following students:

Archer High School graduate Carlton Beasley, who will be attending Georgia State University to study busi-ness administration

Collins Hill High School graduate Tyra Holiday, who will be attending the University of Georgia to study biology;

Redan High School graduate Amber Kelly, who will be attending the

University of West Georgia to study nursing

Miller Grove High School Vale-dictorian Jayla Moody, who will be attending Mercer University to study broadcast journalism;

Rockdale County High School graduate Carly Moon, who will be attending Hampton University to study mass communications;

Druid Hills High School graduate Kimberley Nixon, who will be attend-ing Spelman College to study biology;

Arabia Mountain High School graduate Sydney Williams, who will be attending Howard University to study broadcast journalism.

Kim Beasley was one of the parents who acknowledged the scholarship is a blessing to her son, Carlton.

“I know Carlton will use this mon-

ey to get one step closer to his dream of owning his own business. It really is greatly appreciated,” said Kim Beasley.

Carlton, a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and several community organizations, agreed with his mother.

“I live by the quote that ‘It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish that counts.’ My family and my com-munity have provided a great founda-tion for me. I look forward to taking this scholarship to pursue any challenge that comes my way,” said Carlton Beasley. “As a member of Youth About Business I discovered my passion for entrepreneurship. I plan to focus on account and business administration and I am very grateful to these organi-zations.”

PAGE 8 •JUNE 20, 2015 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

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TO CONTACT USBY PHONE: 678-526-1910BY FAX: 678-526-1909BY E-MAIL: EDITOR@OCGNEWS.COMVISIT ONLINE: WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

People Movers & Shakers in the Community

From left to right: Atlanta City Councilmember C.T. Martin, Mayor Kasim Reed Chief of Staff Candance Byrd and Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy

Georgia Tech’s first black tenured professor honored in Atlanta

The Atlanta City Council rec-ognized Dr. Dorothy Cows-er Yancy for her leadership

and excellence in higher education. The first African-American professor to receive tenure from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the first female president of Johnson C. Smith University and Shaw University, Yancy has been breaking round for African-Americans in academia since 1972.

“Dorothy Cowser Yancy is a brilliant scholar and inspiring leader,” said Councilmember C.T. Martin. “As a professor and an administrator, her impact on students, faculty and institu-tions is unmatched. Although a leader of national and international reknown, Dr. Yancy makes time to share her many talents with us in Atlanta. It is an honor to have her with us today at City Hall.”

Yancy served as a professor of History, Technology and Society and in the School of Management at the Georgia Institute of Technology from 1972-1994. At Georgia Tech, she was the first African-American to be pro-moted and tenured as a full professor.

She served as president of John-son C. Smith University from October 1994 to June 30, 2008. Since 1994, she raised more than $145 million for the University. At retirement in 2008, she left the university with a balanced budget and a $10 million rainy day fund.

In 1996, the University was awarded the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant. JCSU is the only HBCU that has received the genius grant. In 2000, Johnson C. Smith University became the first HBCU “Laptop” university, issuing IBM Thinkpads to all of its students.

When she took the helm at Shaw University in 2009, she restructured and refinanced the university’s debt and balanced the budget. From Sep-tember 2011to December 2013, she led the university through the regular SACS accreditation reaffirmation and five program reaffirmations.

She presently serves as a member of the National Association of HBCU Title III Administrators, Inc., Pres-ident’s Advisory Board, the Board of Trustees of Morehouse College, a member of the Board of NAFEO, a member of the Board of the United Negro College Fund, and an advisor to several college presidents.

Dr. Yancy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and social science from Johnson C. Smith University, a Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Massachusetts, Am-herst, and a Ph.D. in political science from Atlanta University, with further study at the University of Singapore,

Hampton University, Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago), North-western University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

“I am honored and humbled to be here today with the Atlanta City Council for this recognition,” said Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy. “I am proud of my lifetime of accomplishments. I have tried to serve as a model and a mentor to college administrators and to students of all backgrounds pursu-ing their degrees. It has always been my dream that they find their place in life and make this world a better place for all of us.”

Junior League of DeKalb announces new leadership

The Junior League of DeKalb County, Inc. (JLD) has selected its new President,

Board of Directors, and five new Com-munity Advisory Board (CAB) mem-bers for the 2015 - 2016 league year.

The 2015 - 2016 Board of Direc-tors includes: President, Mindy Ka-plan; President-Elect, Suzanne Os-borne; Secretary, Shara Sanders; Vice President of Community, Rashidah Hasan; Vice President of Membership, Kimberly Roberts; Vice President of Finance, Allison Lockhart; Vice Pres-ident of Fund Development, Olivia Greene; Nominating Chair, Natalie Wilkes-Shaw; and Sustainer Advisor, Sandra Smith.

“I am honored to serve as the 2015-2016 President alongside this amazing group of women. The Junior League of DeKalb County, Inc. is an incredible organization of over 300 women dedicated to making a differ-ence in our community. I am truly inspired by the hard work and dedica-tion of our members who invest their time, talents, and treasures year after year,” said President of Junior League of DeKalb County, Mindy Kaplan. “We are as dedicated to our mission as we were over 80 years ago. This year, we will continue to invest in our community, women, and one another by offering impactful financial sup-port and trained volunteer time to our

community partners and by delivering meaningful training opportunities to help instill a lifetime commitment to civic service.”

The Junior League of DeKalb County, Inc. is a not-for-profit orga-nization of diverse women that has been investing in the community for decades.

The 2015-2016 new CAB mem-bers include: Chief Now Officer for Working on Your Now, Lori Beard-Daily; Former State Senator and Retired Journalist, The Honorable Steen Miles; Director of The Wellness Center at DeKalb Medical, Aman-da Posey; President and CEO of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, Kat-erina Taylor; and President of Private Bank of Decatur, Judy Taylor.

The Community Advisory Board (CAB) is comprised of community and business leaders with diverse expertise and backgrounds. The CAB members provide JLD with direction and guid-ance in identifying and prioritizing community needs, and members serve as advocates by articulating the orga-nization’s mission and programs to the community at large.

“We are so excited to welcome the five new members to our Community Advisory Board this year. Each mem-ber brings a unique perspective and background which will be invaluable as we work to refine our community programs and strengthen JLD’s im-pact. We are honored that these leaders are willing to lend their support and guidance to JLD,” Kaplan said.

For more information about the Junior League of DeKalb County, visit www.jldekalb.org.

Front Row, from left: Sustainer Advisor, Sandra Smith, Mindy Kaplan, Suzanne Osborne and Olivia Greene. Back Row, from left: Shara Sanders, Allison Lockhart, Kimberly Roberts, Natalie Wilkes-ShawNot Pictured: Rashidah Hasan.

Che J. Long takes WAND reigns

The Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND)welcomes Che J. Long as its new program manager. Long will join two other relatively new staff members, Bernice Johnson-Howard, Georgia WAND field coordinato, based in Burke County, and Johnna Szegda, executive assistant.

Long brings a wealth of expertise, skills, and passion to Georgia WAND.

She hails from Los Angeles by way of Hawaii where at 7 years old, she began her organizing work licking envelopes for the Hawaiian land and cultural sovereignty movement. She is a Queer Black Femme organizer, and trained herbalist. For the past seven years, she has dedicated her life to organizing around community-based strategies for ending violence.

As the former program coordinator of the Safe Outside the System Collective of the Audre Lorde Project, based in NYC, and a current member of the Solutions Not Punishment Coalition (SNaP-Co, of which Georgia WAND is a member), Long works with communities most affected by violence to develop political education and campaign strategies that increase capacity for safety and wellness. She uses the languages of guerillatheater to infuse cultural work into the fibers of strategy building. When she is not organizing, Long spends her time at the intersections of Sci-fi and Beyonce.

“I am humbled and excited to be a part of Georgia WAND’s crucial work in the South, to be working alongside Southerners fighting to keep this land sacred and our communities healthy,” Long said. “It is a great honor to follow in a long line of Black women fighting for environmental justice in the south.

Georgia WAND is a women-led, independent, grassroots organization focused on building political power to end the nuclear renaissance, war, and systemic violence. The organization also works to advance education and solidarity across the state; democratize the political system to be more inclusive and people more active; and redirect militarized public resources to human needs, human rights and environmental justice.

PAGE 10 • JUNE 20 2015 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

people who came out were familiar with what I stand for and that’s why they voted for me,” said Turner. “Looking ahead, I feel very excited about the possibilities. We’ve got to get out and reach more people this next time around. I’ve got some dedicated people who worked really hard and I’m looking forward to building on what we have.”

Johnson, who received endorse-ments from former Ambassador An-drew Young, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and State Rep. Earnest Coach Williams, said she plans to continue building support for her campaign by pushing her message:

“I’m ready to clean up —the litter, the potholes and the prob-lems we’re having. If I’m elected, I plan to be a good steward of the taxpayers’ money. I’m going to look closely at our budget and how our money is spent. We’ve got four investigations going in the county. We’ve got to look at our spending. I know how to do that because I run my own law practice. Hank and I

have practiced law together and we know the importance of being good students over money,” Johnson said.

Johnson and Turner have their work cut out in getting out the vote for the runoff. Only 4,557 voters (6 percent) participated in the June 16 Special Election—an abysmal number compared to the 82,742 active voters on the rolls and more than 140,000 residents who com-prise District 5. Maxine Daniels, DeKalb’s Supervisor of Elections Daniels, predicts another dismal turnout for the runoff.

“It’s summer. People are on va-cation. They’re not paying attention. They’re not engaged,” Daniels said.

Daniels said for the most part, Election Day went smoothly. She said poll workers spent a lot of time fielding calls and turning away people who thought they lived in District 5.

“We had to turn away many of them. People were coming from Atlanta and other areas not realizing this was not an election that they could participate in,” said Daniels, adding that the boundaries for Dis-

trict 5 changed with redistricting in 2012.

There are 36 precincts that comprise District 5. Here’s a look at voter turnout for the June 16 Special Election:

• Salem Middle—318 or 12 percent of 2,765 registered voters

• Browns Mill—275 or 9 per-cent of the precinct’s 3,076 regis-tered voters

• Miller Grove—265 or 15 per-cent of the precinct’s 1,814 regis-tered voters

• Woodrow Road-New Birth MBC—217 or 5 percent of 4,705 registered voters

• Snapfinger—206 or 13 percent of the precinct’s 1,611 registered voters

• MLK— 201 or 6 percent of the precinct’s 3,437 registered voters

District 5 has not had a rep-resentative for nearly two years. Lee May, who was elected to the seat, vacated the position when Gov. Nathan Deal appointed him to serve as DeKalb’s interim CEO while Burrell Ellis faces charges.

May resigned the commission seat last month, clearing the way for the election.

District 5 Runoff continued from page 1

the Georgia Department of Labor. Classes begin in August and school

officials say students are already signing up to further their education and get training for transportation-related jobs.

Matt Arthur, deputy commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, said GPTC’s new center addresses a career field that is rapidly growing in Georgia.

“This is a first-of-its-kind facility among the 23 colleges in the Technical College System of Georgia,” said Arthur. “The opening of this facility will further Georgia Piedmont’s efforts to provide

the citizens of Georgia the training they need to succeed in a growing field.”

Construction on the facility started in August 2014 and was completed in February of this year, officials said.

Congressman Hank Johnson, who served as a guest speaker at the ribbon cutting ceremony, said he excited about the new training center because it will help to bring job opportunities to his constituents.

“This facility will create opportunity for numerous students. This is a good deal and represents a growth area for this college, this county and this

GPTC Traning Center continued from page 1

Here’s how the candidates’ votes stacked up with all 36 precincts in Dis-trict 5 reporting:

1. Mereda Davis Johnson, 1,239 (27.2%)

2. George Turner, 726 (15.94%)

3. Jerome Edmondson, 490 (11%)

4. Kathryn Rice, 427 (9.38%)

5. Gina Mangham, 424 (9.31%)

6. Gregory Adams, 351 (7.7%)

7. Harmel Codi, 311 (6.83%)

8. Vaughn Irons, 278 (6.10%)

9. Gwen Russell Green 185 (4%)

10. Kenneth Saunders 115 (2.5 %

The two top contenders share a lighter moment. The day after the Special Election was held, Mereda Davis Johnson and George Turner congratulated one another at the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon at This Is It Banquet Hall in Lithonia.

state. I am very proud to be here today,” said Johnson, who represents Georgia’s District 4. “Many jobs in growing fields such as maintenance, driving and other aspects that make up transportation, require advanced education. We are really glad to see this one-of-a-kind facility go up in our district.”

Congressman Hank Johnson and his wife, candidate Mereda Davis Johnson, give a thumbs up as they head into the Ray of Hope Church voting precinct.on Election Day.

Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News Joshua Smith/OCG News

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