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U/tftfr Social ^ (cDDEKALBCHAMPNEWS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8 - 14, 2024
www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com
VOL. 34 • NO. 32
e CHAMPION
50£
The official legal organ of DeKalb County, Ga.
"64116 0DUU1
LOCAL
Valentine's Day
events conning
up
PAGE 3
LOCAL
Author tells
unvarnished
stories about
herself and
others in
memoir
Mardi Gras celebrations planned
BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE
CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
The words "Mardi Gras" may
conjure images of parties, parades, and
month-long celebrations to residents
along the Gulf Coast, where those in
cities such as New Orleans, Louisiana,
and Mobile, Alabama, still argue over
who started the festivities first.
According to history.com, "Mardi" is
the French word for Tuesday, and "gras"
means "fat." In France, the day before
Ash Wednesday came to be known
Municipalities, organizations, and residents as Mardi Gras, a time for indulgence
in DeKalb County have started their own 0 n "Fat Tuesday." Although DeKalb
Mardi Gras traditions. File photo
County isn't typically known as a Mardi
Gras destination, some municipalities,
organizations, and residents have
started their own Mardi Gras traditions.
Check out some of the local upcoming
events to celebrate the holiday:
AVONDALE ESTATES
Get ready for a wild night of fun
at the American Legion Post 66,
located at 30 Covington Highway in
Avondale Estates, during the legion
post's Mardi Gras Masquerade Party.
SEE MARDI GRAS ON PAGE 6
PAGE 7
SPORTS
Dunwoody
reclaims
wrestling title
PAGE 10
LIFESTYLE
Romance
scams leave
more than
broken hearts
behind
PAGE 13
THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM
Decatur star
signed by
Atlanta United
BY JAY PHILLIPS
JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
A shton Gordon was
signed by Atlanta
United 2 on Jan.
29 on a contract that
will make him an Atlanta
United First Team player on
Jan. 1, 2025.
The 16-year-old from
Decatur is a former Tucker
High School student who
joined Atlanta United's
Academy in January 2019
and played last season with
the under 17 teams. He
helped Atlanta to an MLS
NEXT Cup championship in
the under 16 age division
in June 2023, leading the
team with four goals during
the playoff rounds of the
tournament.
The contract Gordon
signed on Jan. 29 runs
through 2026 with
options for 2027 and
2028. The contract puts
SEE STAR ON PAGE 9
Officials with Decide DeKalb said the organization works to recruit, retain, and expand the businesses that
position DeKalb County to be great. File photo
Decide DeKalb president shares goal
of helping South DeKalb prosper
BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE
CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
Decide DeKalb President Dorian DeBarr said the
development authority's goal for 2024 is to work toward
creating a county that is no longer divided economically
between north and south.
"This year, we want to do the unthinkable," said
DeBarr in an economic development update meeting
held on Jan. 24. "We want to help create one DeKalb
and drive economic prosperity to those communities
that have been left behind. We have to drive awareness
to the opportunities that are on the rise."
SEE DEKALB ON PAGE 6
Dorian DeBarr is the president of
Decide DeKalb. File photo
