The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current, December 07, 2023, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextTHURSDAY, DECEMBER 7-13, 2023 www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com VOL. 34 • NO. 23 e CHAMPION 50# The official legal organ of DeKalb County, Ga. 64116 UUOU1 LOCAL Inaugural event for youth to tackle social media, mental health issues PAGE 2 LOCAL DeKalb, Brookhaven officials provide cold weather safety tips Columbia High School renamed its court after boys’ basketball coach Phil McCrary (middle). Photos by Jay Phillips PAGE 7 SPORTS Cedar Grove returning to state championship PAGE 10 E-commerce auto dealer introduces same-day delivery at Chamblee hub PAGE 13 Columbia renames basketball court to honor county legend BY JAY PHILLIPS JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM C olumbia High School renamed its basketball court in honor of boys' basketball coach Phil McCrary on Nov. 28 — just days after Dekalb's all-time winningest boys basketball coach picked up win No. 700 during a tournament in the Bahamas. McCrary—who is also a member of the Clark Atlanta and Atlanta Sports halls of fame—has coached Columbia to five state titles and eight state title appearances. The 30-plus year DeKalb coaching veteran said the court renaming was the greatest honor he's received as a coach. "This tops it all," said McCrary. "Being able to make the community proud and knowing that you did the best you can do, giving the community something to cheer about tops it all." The ceremony publicly revealed the new court design, which features McCrary's name and signature on both sides of the court. Columbia Principal Derrica Booche- Davis, DeKalb Schools Superintendent Devon Horton, DeKalb County 3rd District Commissioner Larry Johnson, and a host of former Columbia athletes, alumni, and McCrary's coaching peers attended the ceremony. Johnson read a proclamation signed by himself and DeKalb County Government CEO Michael Thurmond at the event. The proclamation congratulated McCrary on his coaching career and thanked him for his service to DeKalb. McCrary began the season with a head coaching record of 695-240 and has led his team to a 6-0 start to follow up a 30- win season and a Final Four appearance in 2022-23. At media day, before the season began, McCrary highlighted his team's versatility and shooting and talked up the ability of point guard Trevian Callaway. Callaway won tournament MVP in the Bahamas as Columbia won the Dales Burns Classic championship in Freeport, Bahamas, and secured win No. 700 for McCrary in the process. The win also marked Columbia's second consecutive season winning a tournament in the Bahamas-a feat that McCrary said sets his program apart from others. Officials celebrate start of Kensington Transit- Oriented Development project BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTI NE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM A project that will bring together affordable housing and development centered on easy access to transit is getting off the ground after years of planning. On Nov. 29, DeKalb County officials, including commissioners and members of the Housing Authority of DeKalb County, joined MARTA officials at a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate kicking off the Kensington Transit-Oriented Development project. Located within walking distance of the Kensington MARTA rail station, the 4.3-acre site will feature 259 units of affordable senior and workforce family housing, the Housing Authority of DeKalb County's new headquarters, community space and amenities, and convenient access to MARTA bus and rail service, stated officials. According to MARTA officials, the development includes the following affordable housing components: • Kensington Pointe Senior Living Apartments, which is a 74-unit senior living community that will be 100 percent affordable, THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM SEE MCCRARY ON PAGE 11 SEE KENSINGTON ON PAGE 6 S»Ci0l/ @ DEK ALBCHAMPNEWS

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The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current, December 07, 2023, Image 1