About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 29, 2024)
lAjb* Mb Social ^ (cDDEKALBCHAMPNEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29 - MARCH 6, 2024 www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com VOL. 34 • NO. 35 e CHAMPION 50£ The official legal organ of DeKalb County, Ga. "64116 0D0U1 LOCAL Millions to be invested in local parks DeKalb's Black history recalled at annual program PAGE 3 LOCAL Stonecrest teen recognized for designing financial literacy teaching tools PAGE 7 SPORTS Skip Mason tells those attending DeKalb History Center’s Black History Month program how he gathered material for his book on Black history in DeKalb County. Photo by Kathy Mitchell BY KATHY MITCHELL FREELANCE REPORTER At DeKalb History Center's 16th annual Black History celebration Feb. 22, the principal speaker, Herman "Skip" Mason Jr., said that when he came to the center approximately 28 years ago looking for material on the roles Black residents played in DeKalb County's history, he was disappointed to find only a couple of folders. "I had been approached to write a book on DeKalb County's Black history for Arcadia Publishing. When the publishing company came to the area looking for someone to write the book, Carolyn and Earl Glenn, publishers of The Champion Newspaper, recommended me. I ended up contacting longtime residents who pulled out boxes and trunks of old photos and papers. One woman showed me a photo and asked, 'Do you know what this is?' I said, 'It looks like a cow pasture.' She said, 'It was. It's now South SEE BHM ON PAGE 7 Several teams playing for Final Four appearances PAGE 11 LIFESTYLE African Textile Museum opens in Stonecrest church PAGE 15 Countywide video surveillance ordinance amended BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM A n ordinance that was passed in 2022 requiring gas stations, convenience stores and other "high-risk" businesses in DeKalb County to operate a 24-hour video surveillance system recently received changes and updates. According to DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran Johnson, "minor updates" needed to be made to the Video Surveillance System (VSS) ordinance, which regulates details such as video footage quality, storage and lighting at gas stations and convenience stores. SEE VIDEO ON PAGE 6 THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM Ayla Evans (middle right) won DCSD’s first-ever gold medal in girls’ wrestling to cap off her undefeated season. Photo provided by Keith Johnson Southwest DeKalb wrestling program makes history BY JAY PHILLIPS JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM Southwest DeKalb High School senior Ayla Evans won DeKalb County School District's (DCSD) first-ever gold medal in the Georgia High School Association's (GHSA) Girls' Traditional State Wrestling Championships on Feb. 15-17 in Macon, while Southwest DeKalb senior Isaiah Scott repeated as the 215-class state champion on the boys' side. It was Evans' first trip to the state title meet since 2021, but she guaranteed herself a spot in Macon with a perfect record through the regular SEE WRESTLING ON PAGE 12
