About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 2019)
The Official Legal Organ ofDeKalb County, GA. Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dun woody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker, Stonecrest and Stone Mountain. THURSDAY, FEB. 7 -13, 2019 www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com A -Jmr ( ® » ' A fence was placed around a growing sinkhole to protect pedestrians and motorists. Photos by Carla Parker Women wear red for a “Go Red for Women” rally at The Lou Walker Senior Center in Stonecrest. Photos by Carla Parker Carter raises awareness of women’s cardiovascular health State Rep. Doreen Carter hosted a “Go Red for Women” rally to raise awareness of cardiovascular health. BY CARLA PARKER carla@dekalbchamp.com Nearly four year after experiencing a heart attack, State Rep. Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) has made it her mission to raise awareness of cardiovascular health. Carter hosted a “Go Red for Women” rally Feb. 1 at The Lou Walker Senior Center in Stonecrest. “Go Red for Women” is American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative which was formed to increase women’s heart health awareness. According to American Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women— approximately one woman every minute. SEE HEALTH ON PAGE 6 Safety concerns arise amid growing sinkhole in Tucker BY CARLA PARKER carla@dekalbchamp.com A growing sinkhole near Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker has raised safety concerns for motorists and pedestrians. Tucker and DeKalb County Fire and Rescue partnered to have a fence placed around a sinkhole on property located at 4147 Lawrenceville Highway, the former location of Tucker Tire. According to city officials, the sinkhole started out as a small hole in late 2017 but has grown and inched closer to the sidewalk and road. Tucker spokesperson Matt Holmes said neither the city or county can do anything to fix the sinkhole. “It’s a private property issue, but it’s being played out between the property owner and [Georgia Department of Transportation] because it’s Lawrenceville Highway, a state route,” Holmes said. “The city’s involvement is we have to let those two sides do whatever it is they’re doing; but we want to make sure there is an assurance of public safety The only thing that we’ve done officially is to work with DeKalb Fire to get the property owner to put of the safety fence. It’s up around the property so that pedestrians, cars or whoever don’t fall into [the sinkhole] because we do want to ensure public safety.” GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dale said she could not comment due to pending legal matters involving the GDOT The Champion’s attempt to locate the property owner was unsuccessful. There are reports that the property owner is trying to sue GDOT to have the sinkhole filled because of its proximity to a state route. QUICK FINDER Opinion 5 Week in Pictures 9 Education 12 Sports 14-15 READING EVENT TOUCHDOWN WITH DECATUR YOUTH PAGE 3 MAYOR SAYS'WE ARE STRONG'IN STATE OF CITY ADDRESS PAGE 8 o DEKALBCHAMPNEWS O DEKALBCHAMPNEWS ^DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
