Newspaper Page Text
LOCAL
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 - 27, 2017 • Page 8
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DECATUR
District 1 Decatur Commission candidate Melissa Manrow stands outside of the
Decatur City Hall after qualifying.
Decatur commission candidate
says experience will lead way
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Entering the city of
Decatur District 1 commission
seat race seemed like "the
next logical step"said
candidate Melissa Manrow.
Manrow, a DeKalb County
Sheriff's Office employee, said
she's hit the ground running
on the campaign trail since
qualifying.
Manrow has been with
the sheriff's office since 2001
and in 2004 served as an
accreditation manager with
the department.
Manrow said her work
experience sets her apart
from the pack.
"My experience puts me
head and shoulders above
any candidate," Manrow
said. "I've served eight years
on the Decatur planning
commission, I've served on
executive boards and I've
been extremely involved in
this community."
Manrow, who attended
law school at the University
of Georgia, is running for
outgoing commissioner Fred
Boykin's seat. Manrow said
she has received support
from friends, family and
Decatur residents.
"I'm excited about all of
it. It's been a quickjump
into the race," Manrow said.
"The response has been
positive and constructive
and it's exciting to see how
welcoming everyone is."
Manrow said she wants to
focus on three key issues—
developing a relationship
with local police, planning
for the future and housing
accessibility.
According to Manrow,
Decatur City Manager Peggy
Merriss has expressed a
desire to retire in two years
and Decatur Police Chief
Mike Booker is nearing
eligibility for retirement.
"We need to think about
the senior staff succession in
the city. They could choose to
retire and I'd like to be part of
the process," Manrow said."I
also have an ongoing respect
for law enforcement in the
community and I want to
continue to strive to improve
our communication."
CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The City of Stone Mountain hereby gives notice
that a Public Hearing will be held to receive public
comment on a Council- initiated Amendment to
Appendix A, Zoning for the regulations regarding
Accessory Dwelling Units, Tiny Houses, of the City of
Stone Mountain Code of Ordinances.
The Mayor and City Council will hold a Public
Hearing on this matter on Tuesday, October 3,
2017 at City Hall located at 875 Main Street, Stone
Mountain, GA at 6:30 PM. Anyone wishing to attend
the public hearing may do so and be heard relative
thereto.
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COUNTYWIDE
Solicitor General brings "dancing
with the stars"event to DeKalb
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
According to DeKalb
County Solicitor General
Donna Coleman-Stribling,
approximately 35 percent of
the cases seen in her office
involve domestic abuse.
Stribling said she wanted
to create a way to bring
awareness to domestic
violence in DeKalb County
while also being able to make
people laugh and smile—thus
"Dancing with DeKalb Stars"
was born.
Dancing with the DeKalb
Stars will take place Oct.
14 at the Porter Sanford
III Performing Arts and
Community Center. Proceeds
from the event will go to
DeKalb domestic abuse
nonprofits, The Women's
Resource Center to End
Domestic Violence and The
International Women's House.
The event, based on the
popular television show
"Dancing with the Stars,"will
feature 11 teams. Each team
will have a dance professional
partnered with a member
of DeKalb County's legal,
public safety, business or civic
community.
Coleman-Stribling said she's
thrilled that so many different
county officials were willing to
partner to bring the event into
fruition.
"It's only going to be
with partnering with these
organizations, sitting down as
a community and recognizing
that we have an issue that the
problem will start to get better,"
Coleman-Stribling said."It's just
one of those things that you do
better with a group of people
DeKalb County Solicitor-General
Donna Coleman-Stribling collaborated
with other county organizations to
create the “Dancing with the DeKalb
Stars,” fundraising event for domestic
violence awareness.
than you do alone."
Some of those competing
in the event will include
former DeKalb County Sheriff
Thomas Brown, DeKalb
County Commissioner Kathie
Gannon, Dunwoody Chief
of Police Billy Grogan,
DeKalb County Fire and
Rescue Spokesperson
Captain Eric Jackson and
a guest performance from
DeKalb County CEO Michael
Thurmond.
"Once we said go, we kind
of ran with the idea and the
response has been great so
far. We've had a lot of input,"
Coleman-Stribling said."We've
had a lot of people volunteer
their time."
Anna Blau, executive
director for the International
Women's House, said she's
happy the nonprofit will be
one of the recipients of the
fundraising event.
The nonprofit serves as a
shelter for abused women and
children across the county and
puts a special emphasis on
immigrants and refugees, she
said.
"They are sending a
powerful message that
everyone's life matters. We
serve some undocumented
women and children and
it feels inspiring knowing
[county officials] support
our cause," Blau said. "These
collaborations are the glue
that holds us together."
Interprint Communications
owners Monica and Veronica
Maldonando will host the
competition.
Judges of the dance
competition are Emmy
nominated producer Stepp
Stewart, Anana Harris-Parris,
founder of the Self-Care
Agency, and President and
CEO of the DeKalb County
Chamber of Commerce,
Katerina Taylor.
The nonprofit organizations
will also have an opportunity
for an expo before the start of
the event.
"Awareness is a really big
piece to ending violence
against women,"said Jean
Douglas, executive director of
The Women's Resource Center
to End Domestic Violence.
"This is a different kind of way
to spread the message. This
can be a fun and engaging
event for the community and
people can walk away with
something."
Douglas said DeKalb
County has a history of
advocating for ending
domestic violence. Coleman-
Stribling said she hopes the
event can become an annual
competition and fundraiser.
Tickets for the event
can be purchased at www.
dancingwithdekalbstars.
eventbrite.com.
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