About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 2023)
FEBRUARY 9 -15, 2023 www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com VOL 32 • NO. 33 e CHAMPION The official legal organ of DeKalb County, EA. Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Uthonia, Pine Lake, Tucker, Stonecrest and Stone Mountain. 504 LOCAL Zoning ordinance amendments set distance requirements for small discount stores PAGE 2 SPORTS Taylor twins spark SWD overtime victory Atlanta, DeKalb announce agreement before continuing ‘Cop City’ development BY JAY PHILLIPS JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM In recent months, Atlanta has seen protests, an officer-involved shooting that killed a protester, Molotov cocktail incidents, and other violence at the site of the planned Atlanta Public Safety Training Facility in South DeKalb. The protests and violence are part of a debate regarding the planned $90 million facility that would house burn buildings, shooting ranges, mock cities, and other amenities for training first responders. The Atlanta Public Safety Training Facility has been dubbed Cop City by protesters. On Jan. 31, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond held a press conference at Atlanta City Hall about an "agreement" that they said was SEE PROTEST ON PAGE 6 - ■. 1L>- j ft t-mji i i %yr \ . tjj pj/ip e —»—i' i i i »STIC ■ iji 111111 Il'EB ilip? lifixiJxiir~ **'- Bm * f///*, ^ a ——-y H th£ : •' 3Pl2> JR —-J EVERY CMGC ^ ^ JH 1 Wu 1 r ■WvKib 11 ' =4-^ Protesters opposing the Atlanta Public Training Facility stood outside of Atlanta City Hall and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ office to chant for his resignation during a press conference. Photo by Jay Phillips PAGE 13 LIFESTYLE Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a class, hike, party or show PAGE 14 VISIT US ONLINE @ THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM lill fl, 641 1 6 00001 DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections receives recognition for election success BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM An organization that brings together officials, designers, technologists, and other experts to help local election departments improve operations, develop a set of shared standards and values, and obtain access to resources to run successful elections, is recognizing the DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections Department. According to a news release, the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence (the Alliance) has selected DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections (VRE) to join the group's inaugural cohort of Centers for Election Excellence. DeKalb County is the only jurisdiction in the state of Georgia to receive this recognition. As a Center for Election Excellence, DeKalb County was awarded $2 million and the VRE will join a select, bipartisan group SEE RECOGNITION ON PAGE 11 DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections department has been selected by the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence to join the inaugural cohort of Centers for Election Excellence. DeKalb County is the only jurisdiction in the state of Georgia to receive this recognition. Photo by Christine Fonville Atlanta VA helps more than 400 homeless veterans find housing BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM Officials with the Atlanta VA Healthcare System, which includes the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, said community partners helped them reach their goal of providing more than 400 permanent housing placements to homeless veterans last year. The efforts were part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nationwide goal to house 38,000 homeless SEE HOUSING ON PAGE 11 \jjti Mb Social @DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
