The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current, March 28, 2024, Image 1

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The champion newspaper., March 28, 2024, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextlAjb* Mb Social ^ (cDDEKALBCHAMPNEWS THURSDAY, MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2024 www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com VOL. 34 • NO. 39 e CHAMPION 50£ The official legal organ of DeKalb County, Ga. "64116 0DLKJ1 LOCAL Class to teach citizens about the court system returns PAGE 3 LOCAL Twin brothers found guilty of armed robbery PAGE 9 SPORTS Chamblee claims middle school track titles PAGE 11 LIFESTYLE Balloon Museum features inflation art from the imaginations of international artists PAGE14 FORTHE LATEST UPDATES VISIT US AT Easter events coming up throughout DeKalb BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM The Easter Bunny is on his way and cities in DeKalb are preparing for his arrival with family-friendly events and ac tivities. Check out how these municipalities, churches and groups are celebrating Easter: Avondale Estates Join Gospel Hope Church for a Community Easter Egg Hunt at the Town Green on March 30 from 10 a.m. to noon. Easter events are springing up throughout DeKalb SEE EASTER ON PAGE 6 Count V- File P hoto Qualifying for two vacant commissioner seats begins in April BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM he qualifying period is ap proaching for two county com missioner seats that will be de cided in the upcoming Nov. 5 General Election. At their March 18 meeting, the Board of Registration and Elections (BRE) unanimously voted to fill Coun ty Commission District 3 and Super Commission District 7 seats through a special election. Qualifying for the special election will be held April 1 through 5, stated officials. The BRE's vote comes after Com missioners Steve Bradshaw, Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, and Larry Johnson each qualified to become the next CEO of DeKalb County. Whoever wins will take the helm from Michael Thurmond, who has served as CEO since 2016. Each candidate has ex perience in local government - Brad shaw has served as a commissioner since 2016; Cochran-Johnson has served as a commissioner since 2019; and Larry Johnson has served as a commissioner since 2002. While Bradshaw's seat was up during this year's election cycle, Co chran-Johnson and Johnson's seats were not, triggering the need for a special election, said BRE officials. According to a document present ed at the BRE's March 18 meeting, the preparation for the special elec tion will be a challenge. In a section of the document titled Commissioner Vacancies Sepa rate and Apart, BRE officials included a section of a Georgia code about special elections, which reads, in part, "Special primaries and special elections which are to be held in con junction with the presidential pref erence primary, a state-wide general primary, or state-wide general elec tion shall be called at least 90 days prior to the date of such presidential preference primary, state-wide gen eral primary, or state-wide general election; provided, however, that Hawkins Hall in Decatur’s Legacy Park will host a candidate forum for those running for DeKalb County Government’s CEO position. Photo by Jay Phillips CEO candidates set to debate BY JAY PHILLIPS JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM Candidates for DeKalb County Gov ernment's CEO position will participate in a livestreamed forum on April 25 from 6 until 8:30 p.m. at Legacy Park's Hawkins Hall in Decatur, 500 S. Columbia Drive. At the forum, candidates Steve Brad shaw, Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, and Larry Johnson will participate in a debate moderated by Bill Crane and hosted by The Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; Lead ership DeKalb, We Love Buford Highway, and The Champion Newspaper. The forum is designed to give the public a chance to meet and question the candidates for the DeKalb County govern ment CEO position ahead of the May 21 primary election - which could decide the race as all three qualified candidates are in the Democratic party. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the forum begins at 7 p.m. Tickets to watch the fo rum in-person are limited and available at bit.ly/dekalbceo. Questions can also be submitted for candidates at the registra tion link. Because seating is limited, the forum will focus on its livestream viewership. The forum will be livestreamed on The Champion Newspaper's social media ac counts and livestreamed by other hosts. More information on streaming op- THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM SEE QUALIFYING ON PAGE 6 SEE DEBATE ON PAGE 6