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LOCAL
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, DEC. 26, 2019 - JAN. 1, 2020 • PAGE 3
COUNTYWIDE
f
DUN WOODY
Dollar store chains are plentiful in south DeKalb along Candler Road. File photo
County leaders put a halt
to new dollar stores
BY ASIA ASHLEY
Asia@dekalbchamp.com
Requests to build
new dollar stores in
DeKalb County are on
hold after DeKalb County
commissioners approved a
45-day moratorium on the
establishments of small box
discount stores Dec. 17. The
moratorium does not affect
existing dollar stores.
During the moratorium
period, commissioners plan
to “study the effects of
the discount stores on the
health, safety and welfare
of the county’s residents
and businesses” before
considering a change to
county ordinances as it
relates to those businesses.
DeKalb County District
7 Commissioner Lorraine
Cochran-Johnson was
featured on CBS Sunday
Morning discussing the
effects of the growth of
dollars stores. An estimated
50 of 70 dollar stores in
the county are within her
district.
“With 68 percent of all
dollar stores located in my
district, I have an obligation
to take every action possible
to ensure these stores do
not adversely impact our
community,” said Cochran-
Johnson. “I have no problem
with dollar stores in my
district. I am against their
proliferation of underserved
communities and I feel the
need to educate people on
the consequences of their
presence. Dollar stores have
a huge impact on healthy
communities and economic
development.”
The CBS report featured
business owners and
case studies from across
the United States while
discussing the impact
of dollar stores on local
grocers and community
health.
According to the
Georgia Department of
Public Health, 25 percent
of DeKalb County residents
live in a “food desert” or
area with limited access to
health food options such as
fresh fruits and vegetables.
“Dollar stores tend
to highly saturate areas,”
Cochran-Johnson stated
during the segment. “When
you look at the pattern of
growth of the dollar store, as
well as the areas that have
the highest levels of obesity,
hypertension and high blood
pressure, there is a direct
correlation between their
presence and poor health.
We see it in the data.”
The moratorium will
expire Jan. 31, 2020 unless
shortened or extended
by commissioners. To
extend the moratorium
beyond the 45-day period,
a public hearing would
be required, according to
County Attorney Viviane H.
Ernstes.
Armed robbery suspects sought
in Dunwoody incidents
BY ASIA ASHLEY
Asia@dekalbchamp.com
Dunwoody police
are looking for suspects
involved in two separate
incidents Dec. 13 and Dec.
14.
Police say a Black male,
either late teens to early
20s, entered the Exxon gas
station on Perimeter Center
East just after 3 a.m. Dec.
13. Store associates told
police the man approached
the register with a pistol
under his jacket, demanding
cash from the register. After
associates complied, the
suspect fled from the store.
He was wearing a beige
hoodie during the robbery,
according to video footage
of the incident.
On Dec. 14, a man was
shot in the parking lot of
Peachtree North Apartments
on Peachtree Place Parkway
just before midnight,
Dunwoody police are looking for a young
male they say robbed an Exxon gas
station on Perimeter Center East just
after 3 a.m., Dec. 13. Police are also
looking for suspects in an armed robbery
and shooting on Dec. 14 in the parking
lot of Peachtree North Apartments on
Peachtree Place Parkway.
according to Dunwoody
police.
The victim said he
was standing outside of
an apartment building
talking on his cell phone
when he was approached
by two Hispanic males
who demanded his wallet,
according to Dunwoody
police. The victim ran
back toward his apartment
when one of the men began
shooting at him. Police say
the victim was shot twice
and was later transported
to a local hospital where he
was treated and released.
The only description
provided of the suspects is
that there were two Hispanic
males, approximately 5 feet
5 inches and in their early
20s.
Anyone with
information on either of
the incidents is asked to
contact Detective Robert
Barrett at 678-382-6934 or
via email at robert.barrett@
duwnoodyga.gov.
Anonymous tips can
also be submitted online at
www.crimereports.com or
www.dunwoodypolice.com.
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