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The CHAMPION The official legal organ of Malb County, EA. Seiving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookbaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker, Stonecrest and Stone Mountain, | 50$ SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022 www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com VOL 32 • NO. 11 September events to honor Davidson Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve’s anniversary BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance is hosting events throughout the month of September to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Davidson Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve. According to Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance (AMHAA) officials, although the federally recognized heritage area spans 40,000 acres and encompasses numerous historic and natural landmarks, Arabia Mountain is the most easily identified landscape of the area. "The mountain itself is part of the 2,550- acre DeKalb County greenspace called the Davidson-Arabia Nature Preserve," states the AMHAA website. "The preserve also includes other large formations of exposed granite, wetlands, pine and oak forests, multiple streams, and two lakes. The rare, native plant species, such as the signature red diamorpha in the winter and fall's yellow daisies, make it seem as though the rock is in constant metamorphosis." Fifty years ago, Charles Davidson, Jr., then-president of one of the largest granite products companies in the world, made the decision to prevent a massive mountain of SEE ANNIVERSARY PAGE 6 Pictured is part of the monadnock known as Arabia Mountain inside of the Davidson Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve. Photo by Eric Bowles Commissioners allocate money to improve digital divide, court resources BY JAY PHILLIPS JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved legislation sponsored by District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson and District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw that will provide funding to 100 Black Men of DeKalb, Southern Christian Leadership Conference W.O.M.E.N, Inc., and DeKalb County Accountability Courts. Based on the legislation approved, Davis Johnson allocated $50,000 to 100 Black Men of DeKalb and $25,000 to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference W.O.M.E.N, Inc. Bradshaw allocated $60,000 of District 4 reserve funds for DeKalb County Accountability Courts, including drug court, DeKalb County Felony Mental Health Court, DeKalb County Veterans Treatment Court, and DUI Accountability courts. Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson (right) pictured at the recent fundraiser for 100 Black Men of DeKalb- one of the organizations receiving funds from Davis Johnson and Steve Bradshaw. Photo provided According to a news release, the funding from Davis Johnson will help the designated organizations "provide job training, educational assistance, computers, access to internet, and other technology assistance in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by DeKalb County exceeds federal state standards for drinking water quality BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM DeKalb County's drinking water quality surpasses federal and state standards, according to DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) officials. The information was published with the release of the 2022 Consumer Confidence Report Drinking Water Quality Report (CCR) on Aug. 29. "DWM continues providing DeKalb County customers with high-quality drinking water (and) surpassing all federal and state drinking water quality standards," said officials. According to a press release, the CCR provides information on monitoring data gathered from water quality testing during 2021. DeKalb County's water intake, or water source, is located on the Chattahoochee River, north of DeKalb County and upstream from the city of Atlanta. Water is treated at the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant and then distributed to DeKalb County The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) has released the 2022 Drinking Water Quality Report. File Photo customers. Items that may be present in water before it is treated include contaminants such as viruses, bacteria and metals, pesticides and herbicides, SEE RESOURCES PAGE 6 SEE WATER PAGE G FODAC to provide medical equipment repairs for veterans PAGE 2 Columbia, Lakeside start undefeated for first time this decade PAGE 11