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SECTION A: VOL. 27 NO. 5(
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.
THURSDAY, JUNE 7-13,2018 THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM I f # Ij§) DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
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The Decatur City Commission voted to approve annexation of 11 parcels on East Ponce De Leon Ave. and Grove Place for a
mixed-use project.
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More apartments, more problems
Decatur residents voice concerns over annexation
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
With protesters standing outside Decatur
City Hall holding signs stating “no more
walls” and “industrial areas provide jobs,”
Decatur’s newest proposed mixed-use
development was being discussed at a city
commission meeting June 4.
Approximately a dozen protesters stood
on the sidewalk of East Trinity Place with
signs opposing the annexation.
The Decatur commission approved the
annexation proposal in a 3-2 vote during its
meeting. According to the petition, Alliance
Realty Services would annex 11 parcels on
East Ponce De Leon and Grove Place for a
mixed-use project.
“We just want Decatur to grow in a better
way,” said Michael Harris, who lives and
works in Decatur. “We just want fairness
throughout Decatur. We want to live in an
SEE PROTEST ON PAGE 5
Police collect money for Special Olympics
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Some officers with DeKalb
County Sheriff’s Office
(DKSO) were able to kill
two birds with one stone for
National Doughnut Day June
1. Officers were able to enjoy
a sweet snack and help Special
Olympics Georgia athletes in
need.
DKSO participated in
Cops on Doughnut Shops, an
annual fundraising event for
Special Olympics of Georgia.
Each year, in coordination
with National Doughnut Day,
law enforcement agencies
across Georgia partner with
Dunkin Donuts Cops to raise
SEE COPS ON PAGE 5
Second annual
Ramadan Iftar
Dinner scheduled
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
An event created for individuals
to get to know their neighbors was
attended by more than 400 people in
Clarkston last year although it was
planned in just a few days.
The event is in its second year and
organizers say it could be bigger than
the last.
Ramadan Iftar Dinner, which will
be held June 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Refugee
Coffee in Clarkston, started as a way to
embrace a national tradition.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the
Islamic calendar, is observed by many
Muslims as a month of fasting to
commemorate the first revelation of the
Quran. The iftar dinner celebrates the
end of Ramadan.
For two decades, the White House
hosted an iftar dinner but the event was
cancelled last year.
“Just last year, [President] Trump
did not want to host a Ramadan dinner,
so I just contacted several community
members and just wanted to do
something,” said Heval Kelli, one of
the event’s organizers. “It was a simple
idea and we just wanted people to come
together.”
This year Trump continued the
tradition June 6 and hosted an iftar at
the White House.
Ramadan Iftar Dinner is not just for
Muslims, Kelli said. Anyone who wants
to join the festivities is welcome.
The event will feature activities
for children and opportunities to
meet fellow community members.
Participants are encouraged to bring a
dish. Alcohol or pork is not permitted.
“We want to show people we are
more united than divided,” Kelli said.
“It’s not just about religion, you have
to teach each other kindness and unity.
I want everyone to feel welcome and
comfortable.”
Kelli said Refugee Coffee has been
a strong supporter of the event. Last
year organizers began planning a week
ahead of the dinner and expected 200
people to show up, but on the day of the
event that number doubled.
Kitti Murray, owner of Refugee
Coffee, said this year organizers will be
more prepared.
“It was crazy, but I just had this
feeling that we couldn’t not do it. I
went to our staff and we all felt like we
SEE DINNER ON PAGE 5