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Brookhaven Reporter www. Reporter Newspapers, net JULY 10- JULY 23, 2015 • VOL. 8 - NO. 14 Head for the Hills Fast, then feast Muslims celebrate Ramadan FAITH 6 Knee high Tall, weedy lawns bring fines PUBLIC SAFETY 26 PAGES 10-17 The world was watching nothing to hide’ IT JOE EARLE joeearle@reporternewspapers.net Saying they wanted to avoid the appearance of a City Hall cover up, members of Brookhav en City Council have voted to release several private documents related to internal discus sions about the actions of city officials. “This is our action to show we have nothing to hide,” Councilman Bates Mattison said. “I hope it gives the citizens of Brookhaven some peace ... [and] that this matter can be put to bed once and for all.” The city on July 8 released minutes of coun cil discussions conducted in closed meetings on May 26, June 9 and June 16, and an email between former City Attorney Tom Kurrie to Councilman John Park and copied to other members of the council. New City Attorney Christopher Balch rec ommended that the executive session minutes not be released, but said lawyers he had sur veyed were divided on whether the release was proper. “There is no firm, clear answer to this question,” he said. “We are taking this issue and making it far bigger than it really is,” Mattison said. “Lets put this information out there to the public and move on.” Kurrie resigned during the June 16 meet ing and the documents released July 8 include ISADORA PENNINGTON a copy of his handwritten letter of resignation. World Cup fans, from left, Gina Webber, Kiley Parrish, Leah Eller and Madalyn Dewling Kurrie’s resignation was announced at the celebrate the U.S. women’s win over Japan during the Soccerfest II event at Brookhaven end of the June 16 council meeting. At the Park on July 5. Revelers were treated to an assortment of activities, including kids’ events, time, Mayor Rebecca Chase Williams said, “It competitions and a big screen to watch the match. See additional photos on page 5. see city, page 4 City Council: ‘We have Fantasy warriors battle at Blackburn Park BY JOHN MICH On Sunday afternoons, Brookhaven’s Blackburn Park magically transforms into a fantasy battlefield straight out of “The Lord of the Rings” or “Game of Thrones.” Amid the Frisbee-tossers and dog-walkers in the park, armored knights cross swords, swashbucklers fence with foes, and Japanese anime heroes battle gladiators for own ership of magic shields. These fantasy warriors come from two separate groups: the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), which meets at noon, and Dagorhir Battle Games, which gath ers at 3 p.m. Members of the society lean toward historical re-en actment, its members clad in metal armor and able to sing medieval church choral music on cue. Participants in Dagorhir engage in a more freewheeling sport, something like paintball with foam swords. But both groups share a love of full-contact fantasy combat and real camaraderie. And both have used Black burn for years due to its easy access for metro Atlanta members and its large population of locals who are wel come to watch and even join in. The heroes and heroines of this alternative universe recently gathered at places where the park becomes the SCA’s Barony of South Downs and Dagorhir’s Realm of High Spires. SEE THE FANTASY, PAGE 25 JOHN RUCH On Sundays, Blackburn Park transforms into a battleground complete with foam swords and metal armor.