Newspaper Page Text
LOCAL
THURSDAY, JUNE 7 - 13, 2018 • Page 5
PROTEST
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area that’s clean and everybody can get through
with no traffic.”
The 9.7 acres of proposed redevelopment
would include an apartment complex with 250
units.
“The building of Decatur is not moving as
quickly as the infrastructure. I’d like to see it
slow down and see some more studies to make
sure we can handle this growth,” said protestor
Nikki, who declined to give her last name.
“I’m all about growth, but I want us to do it
reasonably.”
Decatur notified DeKalb County officials of
the proposed annexation in February. DeKalb
County Commissioner Jeff Rader said the city’s
communication with the county was the first
time he had heard of the proposal.
Rader said DeKalb County officials did
not believe the project would fit the site. The
developers dropped the zoning petition and
approached Decatur for an annexation.
“The notion that somehow these particular
property owners have been petitioning
the county for four and one-half years for
alternative zoning or any adaption of land use is
incorrect,” Rader said. “The first time I had any
substantive knowledge of these plans is when
two members of the city commission came and
met with Commissioner [Kathie] Gannon and
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me.
Some believe the mixed-use property would
add value to the area. Lewis Jones, board
chair of City Schools of Decatur, wrote a letter
to the commission dated May 31 stating the
redevelopment would bring more money into
the school system.
“We have concluded the proposed
annexation would have a substantial positive
impact on the school budget, with the
need to plan for additional students and
classrooms being offset by income from the
large commercial component of the planned
development,” Jones wrote.
Jones said the commission should approve
the redevelopment under the condition that the
“development must be substantially similar to
the plan submitted.”
City Commissioner Tony Powers said
the commission had not received a formal
complaint opposing the redevelopment from
county commissioners.
Powers said he also took offense at
statements made by Champion columnist Bill
Crane that the “deal was done and the check
was in the mail.”
“Yes, there are multiple grocery stores that
abut this, all of which were approved by current
commissioners of DeKalb County. There was
not a public outcry when those stores were
stacked up on each other,” Powers said. “I don’t
want to step on toes, but we have an opportunity
to do something with this property. I just want
to deal with the facts. This is not a money grab.”
Commissioners Scott Drake and Brian
Smith voted against the proposal.
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Refugee Coffee in Clarkston will host its second annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner June 9.
DINNER
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should do it. We had so much help from the
community,” Murray said.
Murray said the event has no political
agenda and is about neighbors getting to
know each other.
“The event reflects the area. I don’t
remember having any pushback from
anyone. I’m learning that Clarkston is like
a bubble because the people who live, work
and play here—we don’t preach diversity,
we just live it,” Murray said. “I think people
who come to these events are on board with
dropping barriers and understanding people
are just people.”
COPS
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money for Special Olympics
Georgia athletes.
The top five agencies that
raise the most money carry
a symbolic “Flame of Hope”
during the Special Olympics
games and light the cauldron.
Major Roscoe, field division
commander for DKSO, said
she enjoys coming to the
fundraising event each year.
“This is a worthwhile
cause,” Roscoe said. “One of
the things my lieutenant just
told me is that he loves coming
to events like this because he
appreciates being able to come
out and it shows him that there
are good people still out there.”
Roscoe said she’s been
involved with the fundraising
event for eight years. Last year
was the first year DKSO ranked
in the top 25 agencies for
contributions in Georgia.
Due to the stress of the job,
it’s nice to interact with the
community, Roscoe said.
“Any kind of community
policing is important and
events like this help people
realize that the officers are
people too,” Roscoe said.
“One of our lieutenants has a
son competing in the special
Olympics.”
Roscoe said she increases
the contribution goal each year.
This year’s goal is $5,000.
Officers were at Dunkin
Donuts locations in Decatur,
Tucker, Atlanta and Doraville
collecting donations.
According to Special
Olympics Georgia, it costs
approximately $85 to send an
athlete to the games.
Gymnast Elena Weaver,
an athlete since 1998, said her
favorite part of competing in
the games is being alongside
her friends.
Weaver is coached by her
dad, Ed Weaver.
“It’s been great and a bit
of an adjustment, but I really
enjoy it,” Elena Weaver said.
Weaver said she has big
plans in the near future
after she was invited to go to
Chicago to dance for a Special
Olympics Unified Soccer game
and Chicago Cubs.
The event is the largest
fundraising event for the
Special Olympics Georgia,
according to Ed Weaver.
“A lot of officers donate
a lot of time to make this
happen and it’s really special,”
Ed Weaver said. “We’ve been
involved with the torch run
for 15 years. It’s been great
and we’re thankful for the
opportunity.”
Roscoe said the “team” that
collects the most donations will
get a free meal at her expense,
within reason, she said.