The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current, July 27, 2017, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextCHAMPION The Official Legal Organ ofDeKalb County, GA. Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker, Stonecrest and Stone Mountain. ist Place General Excellence Award Winner Georgia Press Association ‘Better Newspaper contest’ 2007, 2009-2017 SECTION A: VOL. 27 NO. 4 THURSDAY, JULY 27,2017 THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM E DEKALBCHAMPNEWS K3 DEKALBCHAMPNEWS FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS VISIT US AT THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM CARRIER COMBINES FEATURES OF COMMERCIAL AND CHARTER AIR TRAVEL PAGE13A Mixed messages on DeKalb County Georgia Milestones scores District lauds student scores despite declines BY R. SCOTT BELZER Georgia Milestones Ai-itsimcnt m mm sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com M ixed messages are being communicated to the public in reference to the most recent DeKalb County School District (DCSD) Georgia See Scores on Page 5A DeKalb County School District’s latest Georgia Milestones test scores are a mixed bag and resulting in mixed messages from officials. i i i i i i i i A $100,000 DAY PAGE1GA The Watershed Customer Service and Billing Advisory Group are still awaiting appointments from commissioners and CEO Michael Thurmond. Water billing board awaiting appointments 2017 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY PAGE18A QUICK FINDER Business 13A Classified 17A Education 16A Opinion 7A Sports 18-19A 64116 00001 BY HORACE HOLLOMAN horace@dekalbchamp.com It’s been more than five months since the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved creating a Watershed Customer Service and Billing Advisory Group. According to county documents, the board of commissioners voted to create an advisory group on Feb. 28 so residents “can assist the Department of Watershed Management in addressing complaints and problems with existing billing problems, ongoing customer service complaints and the meter replacement program that the county is currently undertaking.” As of July 20, the board is awaiting four appointment positions by CEO Michael Thurmond, the DeKalb Municipal Association, Commissioner Steve Bradshaw and Commissioner Gregory Adams. The Champion contacted the offices of Adams but did not receive a response by press time. An official in Bradshaw’s office said the commissioner is still looking for a nominee. Bradshaw’s chief of staff, Alesia Brooks, said a timeline has not been established for when Bradshaw will make a nomination. See Water on Page 5A Sheriff Mann asks judge for acquittal BY HORACE HOLLOMAN Suspended Sheriff Jeffrey Mann’s attorney asked that charges against his client be dropped. horace@dekalbchamp.com Through his attorney, suspended DeKalb County Sheriff Jeff Mann said he should be acquitted of indecency and obstruction charges because he’s currently serving a state suspension. Mann, who was arrested May 6 after he allegedly exposed himself to a police officer in Piedmont Park, is represented by his attorney Noah Pines. Pines argued in court that Mann should be acquitted because Gov. Nathan Deal already suspended Mann for 40 days. Further punishment would be double jeopardy, Pines wrote in court documents. Mann’s suspension ended July 24. Prior to his suspension, he issued a formal apology, but said his apology is not an admission of guilt. Mann also served a self suspension from May 27 to June 4. “I am disciplining myself for ‘conduct unbecoming,’ specifically the provision defined as ‘engaging in conduct on or off duty which has a tendency to destroy public respect for the employee and/or the DKSO and/or destroy confidence in the operations of the County service is conduct unbecoming and is prohibited,”’ Mann wrote in an internal memo obtained by The Champion. “This self- imposed discipline should not be construed to suggest or imply guilt of the Atlanta municipal ordinance charges alleged. I will continue to vigorously defend myself as it relates to the charges.” Mann pled not guilty to the charges and his trial is scheduled See Mann on Page 5A

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The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current, July 27, 2017, Image 1