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LOCAL
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, DEC. 26, 2019 - JAN. 1, 2020 • PAGE 11
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CLARKSTON
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COUNTYWIDE
Clarkston’s Historical
ready for action
BY JAY PHILLIPS
Jay@dekalbchamp.com
Clarkston city officials nominated and elected members
to the Clarkston Historical Preservation Committee (CHPC)
during a special meeting at Clarkston City Hall Dec. 17.
The committee is tasked with identifying and assisting
with the preservation of historical properties such as old
houses. The committee will also determine whether sections
of Clarkston should be included in the historic areas.
Areas that will be designated as historical districts under
the CHPC will follow historic themes and preservation
guidelines pertaining to age, style, condition and other
factors of the structures.
Deborah Johnson was originally selected to be a part
of the committee but
became ineligible
after she became
a member of
Clarkston’s City
Council, which
forced her to forfeit
her CHPC seat.
Dean Moore
was elected as the
Vice Chair of the
committee. Graham
Ashton Walker
was elected as the
secretary of the
committee and
Patricia Davis-
Morris was elected as the committee’s chairwoman.
Future meetings held by the CHPC will be open to the
public, but the CHPC’s chairman will decide when, or if,
public comments can be made during meetings.
Those selected to the CHPC are residents of Clarkston
who have demonstrated interest in the city and its history,
according to the committee.
The CHPC’s bylaws were then adopted by Clarkson and
officers were officially elected.
The committee has not approved the designated historic
area yet, but blueprints have been drawn highlighting
the areas that could be under the CHPC’s jurisdiction.
Blue areas on the map designate areas that will fall into
the CHPC district while red areas will be excluded. One
version of the proposed map includes the areas around
Poplar Drive and East Avenue while the other does not.
“These are the properties that we are suggesting that we
focus on first,” Walker said.
Walker said the agreed upon areas could expand
or shrink depending on other historical themes that are
identified and work that must be done to areas already
selected.
A public comment was made out of concern that the
historic area would “gentrify” the area and could prevent
people from moving into that area.
Walker responded on behalf of the committee asking for
research or studies that had already been done so they could
study them and eliminate that concern.
These are the
properties that
we are suggesting
that we focus on
First.'
- Graham Ashton Walker
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Children get early Christmas gifts
from sheriff’s office employees
BY ASIA ASHLEY
Asia@dekalbchamp.com
Smiles filled the staff
dining room of the DeKalb
County Sheriff’s Office Dec.
19 as more than 20 foster
children received gifts ahead
of the Christmas holiday as
part of DCSO’s Adopt-A-
Family program.
The day afforded 22
children, many of whom
have an incarcerated parent,
a time to enjoy lunch and
gifts with their foster parent
or grandparent.
Earlier this year,
sheriff’s office employees
held an annual chili cook
off to raise money for
the program and some
employees donated money
of their own to the cause.
“Majority of our
divisions participate. They
give a collective donation
and we separate it among
the kids and that’s how
we shop for them,” said
Carolina Mincey, DCSO’s
administrative specialist
for field operations, who
oversees the program. “We
ask the kids to send in their
wish lists and we make sure
they have all their necessity
items... T-shirts, socks,
underwear their favorite
toys, anything school
related.”
Foster parent Pamela
Simms and her 6-year-old
daughter Ibryanah were
one several families chosen
to be “adopted” this year.
“[Ibryanah] had a
Christmas list and they
called and told me they
were going to make her
dreams come true. They
asked what was on her list
and I told them whatever
they could do, we would be
pleased with,” said Simms.
“It’s been a really good
experience. I loved to see
the smile on her face.”
Ibryanah planned to
open one of her gifts that
day and the rest at 1 a.m. on
Christmas Day.
More than $3,000 was
raised and collected by
sheriff’s office employees
this year for the Adopt-A-
Family program, according
to Mincey. Securus
Technologies donated tablets
and Trinity Food Services
donated Walmart gift card
and cookies.
Families were selected
by Bethany Christian
Services and the Division
of Family and Children
Services’ Kinship program
by Division of Family and
Children Services.
FY19 ANNUAL REPORT ON PROJECTS FUNDED THROUGH SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX
City of Lithonia
Amount Expended
Amount
Year
Origina
Estimated
Current
Expended Current Total Amount
Project
Approved
Cost
Estimated Cost Year 1 (2018) Year 2 (2019)
Year
Expended to date
Transportation
Improvements
Infrastructure
$
1,076,000
s
1,076,000
s
47,697.66
$
47,697.66 $
47,697.66
Improvements
$
352,004
s
352,004
$
0
Public batety
(Includes Public
Works)
Facility
$
137,000
s
137,000
s
13,054.00
$
13,054.00 $
13,054.00
Improvement
$
130,000
s
130,000
s
12,449.97
$
12,449.97 $
12,449.97
Maintenance,
Operations &
Related Project
Cost
$
89,211
s
89,211 $
15.00 $
$
$
15.00
Total
$
1,784,215
s
1,784,215 $
15.00 $
73,201.63
$
73,201.63 $
73,216.63
