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CHAMPION
ist Place
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SECTION A: VOL. 27 NO. 25
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.
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CHAMPION FYCIIKIVF«
Man accused of
bridge collapse
talks addiction,
homelessness
and sobriety
Basil Eleby with his attorney Mawuli Mel Davis at the
Fulton County Courthouse Dec. 15. Eleby will not be
charged in the 1-85 bridge collapse if he completes an
18-month diversion program.
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
The man accused of starting the fire
that led to the Interstate 85 bridge collapse
in March, said he's glad to be given a
second chance.
Basil Eleby was accused of starting
a fire that caused the bridge to collapse
and resulted in forced changes in traffic
patterns and longer commute times for
those driving through the area. Police
charged Eleby with first degree arson
and criminal damage to property after
witnesses claimed he put a chair on
shopping cart and set it on fire while
smoking crack cocaine under the I-85
bridge.
During an interview with The Champion
Newspaper, Eleby, along with DeKalb
County-based attorney Mawuli Mel Davis,
said if Eleby completes an 18-month
diversion program all will be forgiven.
In the 30-minute interview, Eleby talked
about his addiction to drugs and alcohol as
well as the possibility of a new start.
"This is something I always wanted.
To tell you the truth, I feel great about it.
I'm progressing and I'm moving forward,"
Eleby said."I'll be honest with you, I've
never been in a program for 18 months.
I've never [been sober] for 18 months. The
longest I've been clean is no longer than
six months, but this is the longest I've been
clean and sober not locked up somewhere.
I have a choice now."
Eleby said it may be difficult to remain
sober for 18 months, but he's confident
he can complete the program with a new
outlook on life. Through the program,
Eleby must complete drug tests as well as
receive counseling for his addiction.
If Eleby does not complete the
program, which officially started Dec. 18,
he could be prosecuted for the bridge
SEE BRIDGE ON PAGE 5
DeKalb County
School District
takes issue with
changes to Emory
annexation
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
The DeKalb
County School
District has made
clear it will seek
legal action if the
City of Atlanta
moves forward
with the planned
annexation of
Emory University
as currently
written.
Dr. R. Steven Green, DCSD
superintendent, penned a letter
Dec. 18 urging stakeholders in the
pending annexation of 744 acres of
DeKalb County by the city of Atlanta
to reconsider the annexation's current
format. In the letter, Green cites a
serious negative financial impact he
believes the annexation will have on
DCSD.
DCSD agreed to the terms of
the annexation in September with
a provision stating the process
would not affect the boundaries of
DCSD with relation to Atlanta Public
Schools (APS). But, Green writes in
the letter, that changed on Dec. 14
when the ordinance regarding district
boundaries was amended and rushed
through committee and on to the
council for vote without any notice to
DCSD.
DCSD estimates that $2.25 million
in tax revenue will be transferred from
to APS as a result of the change.
Green calls the tax transfer
"especially egregious"and said the
annexation will not result in the
transfer of a significant number of
students from DCSD to APS. In an
interview with The Champion, Green
could not give the precise number of
students who would be affected, but
estimated it would be between three
and 10 total students.
According to Green, the amount of
money transferred is not equivalent
to the transfer of obligation, and
the change will make it significantly
SEE EMORY ON PAGE 5
Green
