Public Forum on Plan 2040 Nov 9 (North Fulton, North DeKalb, Gwinnett)

Fast‐growing region needs forward‐thinking plan: Civic League, ARC seek citizen input on Nov. 9

Residents of North Fulton, North DeKalb and Gwinnett counties are invited to join The Civic League for Regional Atlanta and the Atlanta Regional Commission on Tuesday, Nov. 9 from 6:45 to 9:00 p.m. for a public forum on Plan 2040, the 10‐county region’s plan for guiding economic and population growth sustainably over the next 30 years. The Plan 2040 Forum will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church (5575 Peachtree Parkway, Norcross GA 30092), and though this is a free event, registration is requested by Nov. 5.

With a projected population increase of around 3 million people by 2040, regional citizens and policymakers have much to consider ‐‐ How will we all get around? How much farther out (or up) should our communities grow? How do we balance what we want against what we really need? Planners from ARC will be on hand at this event to explain Plan 2040 and answer questions, and The Civic League will facilitate a group discussion designed to solicit thoughtful feedback from all participants.

Since June, The Civic League and ARC have been hosting Plan 2040 Forums in communities around the region to engage a broad cross‐section of citizens in planning for the region’s continued strong growth. The Nov. 9 forum is located for the convenience of individuals who live or work in northeast metro communities, including Chamblee, Doraville, Dunwoody, Norcross, Lilburn, Berkley Lake, Lawrenceville, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Suwanee.
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Residents in Six More Georgia Counties Eligible to Receive Federal Assistance

Residents in Catoosa, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties are now eligible to receive federal assistance. Governor Sonny Perdue requested this aid following severe thunderstorms and flooding that hit Georgia on September 18 and continued for several days. The Federal Disaster Declaration follows one issued for four counties on September 24. Four additional counties were added earlier today.

"Now, even more Georgia families will have access to much-needed financial assistance that will help them on their road to recovery,” says Governor Perdue.

“We are pleased that FEMA recognized the need for and approved the state's request, which will facilitate recovery efforts of families and businesses in these six counties,” says Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Director Charley English.

The total number of counties designated under this disaster declaration now stands at 14. The list now includes: Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker counties.

Residents and business owners in these counties who sustained losses can begin applying for Individual Assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday.

Individual assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Governor Perdue made the request for a federal declaration after reviewing preliminary damage assessment figures.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more information on GEMA, visit www.gema.ga.gov.; To learn how to prepare for disaster, visit www.ready.ga.gov.
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Governor Perdue Issues State of Emergency for 17 Georgia Counties

Late this afternoon, after viewing storm damage in Douglas and Paulding counties from the air, Governor Sonny Perdue issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties affected by heavy rain and severe weather that passed through Georgia. The counties are Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker counties.

“Mary and I are saddened by the human cost the recent storms have wrought,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “We are currently focused on rescuing victims of the storms targeting Georgia and preventing further damage. State personnel and equipment are being deployed to assist effected communities. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) is coordinating our response and managing the State Operations Center, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Environmental Protection Division (EPD) are deploying boats, high-water vehicles, and testing water. Other state agencies are deploying manpower and additional resources.”
State agency responses include:

Georgia Forestry Commission- Manpower and debris clearance, water tanker for Douglas County Hospital, water tender strike teams for structural fire support

Georgia State Patrol - Law enforcement for traffic control, road closures, helicopters

Department of Transportation - Road closure signs, bridge inspection, detours

Department of Human Services- Hospital coordination, shelter coordination, boil water advisories

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Division- Boats, high water vehicles, manpower, water rescue, dam inspections, haz mat spill assistance, water testing
Department of Agriculture- Large animal evacuations and pet sheltering

Georgia Emergency Management Agency - Response coordination, running State Operations Center, damage reports, public information, situation reports, resource coordination, field response

“The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) will work with state agencies, utility companies and volunteer organizations to coordinate disaster response and recovery activities and serve our citizens,” said GEMA Director Charley English.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information, visit GEMA's Web site at www.gema.ga.gov. To learn how to prepare for disaster, visit www.ready.ga.gov.
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New Emory Partnership Announced to Educate and Improve Access to Care for Atlanta-area Minorities with Diabetes

AADE, Emory University and Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute Partner to Educate and Improve Access to Care for Atlanta-area Minorities with Diabetes


/PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) today announced the launch of an Atlanta-based program aimed at improving self-management of diabetes among minority populations. In partnership with Emory University's Latino Diabetes Education Program and the Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute, the program aims to advance diabetes education in Hispanic and African American populations and to improve clinical and behavioral outcomes. The announcement was made at the Association's annual meeting.

The program will be offered in the Chamblee neighborhood, which is served by the North DeKalb Health Clinic. The clinic is part of the satellite neighborhood network of clinics of Grady Health System in the Metro Atlanta area. Emory's Latino Diabetes Education Program is already serving the Latino community in this area, and will partner with Grady and AADE to implement this minority-specific model.

The "Increasing Access to Diabetes Self-Management Education as a Means of Decreasing Health Disparities in Minority Populations" project aims to:

-- Ensure high quality and culturally appropriate services for people
with diabetes by involving different members of the disease management
team including: physicians, educators, health promoters/community
health workers and other health care professionals.
-- Teach the basics of diabetes self management to populations often
lacking in education and community-focused support.
-- Build upon local program capacity to achieve desired clinical and
behavioral outcomes.

Individuals from minority communities that participate in this program will receive support and tools that will empower them to:

-- Improve their health and clinical outcomes.
-- Change behaviors, set goals and gain problem solving and healthy
coping skills.
-- Learn how to navigate the health care system to increase adherence to
evidence-based guidelines and reduce high-cost emergency department
utilization.

"This program is unique in that it promotes a team approach to diabetes care. Each member of the team -- physician, diabetes educator and community health worker -- supports and builds upon one another's work," said AADE President Marcia Draheim, RN, CDE. "Success will be measured by many factors including clinical improvements, behavioral outcomes, participation and patient satisfaction with the program."

Emory University School of Medicine and Grady Health System have been serving Latinos with diabetes through the Emory Latino Diabetes Education Program. "The program started over three years ago and has reached more than 750 Latinos with diabetes and their families," said Amparo Gonzalez, RN, CDE, director of the program. "This grant offers the opportunity to apply the successes and experiences that the Emory Latino Diabetes Education has had had with Latino community to the African American community."

The program is sponsored through a grant from the Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute.

Facts about Diabetes in Minority Populations

Diabetes disproportionately affects minority individuals, who comprise a significant segment of the U.S. population. For example, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Latinos represent the United States' largest minority group making up 14.8% of the population or 43 million people.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
-- Non-Hispanic whites: 14.9 million, or 9.8% of all non-Hispanic whites
aged 20 years or older, have diabetes.
-- Non-Hispanic blacks: 3.7 million, or 14.7% of all non-Hispanic blacks
aged 20 years or older, have diabetes.

Moreover, health disparities are increasing in the U.S. Individuals in African American and Hispanic neighborhoods, in particular, face many barriers to achieving successful self-management of their diabetes. These barriers are attributable to structural factors (e.g., lack of sidewalks or access to food stores with affordable produce) as well as the cultural, socio-economic, and literacy characteristics of the people living there.

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Atlanta Premiere of the HBO Documentary Film 'THE BLACK LIST: VOL. 2' on Thursday, February 19 at Woodruff Arts Center

HBO, Woodruff Arts Center's Celebrate Diversity Through the Arts Initiative and the 100 Black Men of Dekalb County to Host Atlanta Premiere of the HBO Documentary Film 'THE BLACK LIST: VOL. 2' on Thursday, February 19 at Woodruff Arts Center


/PRNewswire/ -- HBO, in partnership with the Woodruff Arts Center's Celebrate Diversity Through the Arts Initiative and the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County, will co-host the Atlanta premiere of THE BLACK LIST: VOL. 2 at an invitation-only screening on February 19 at The Woodruff Arts Center. Renowned photographer and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and award-winning journalist, critic and radio host Elvis Mitchell will attend to present the second installment of a remarkable group of African-American notables sharing candid stories and revealing insights into the struggles, triumphs and joys of black life in the U.S.

THE BLACK LIST: VOL. 2, which debuts February 26, exclusively on HBO, is a collaboration between celebrated portrait photographer and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, who directs, and award-winning journalist Elvis Mitchell, who interviews a host of influential people. The documentary profiles some of today's most fascinating African-Americans. From the childhood inspirations that shaped their ambitions, to the evolving American landscape they helped define, to the importance of preserving a unique cultural identity for future generations, these prominent individuals offer a unique look into the zeitgeist of black America, redefining the traditional pejorative notion of a blacklist.

The list of people featured in THE BLACK LIST: VOL. 2 includes activist and artist Majora Carter; activist and academic Angela Davis; producer Suzanne de Passe; actor Laurence Fishburne; Anglican Bishop Barbara Harris; Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick; pastor T.D. Jakes; physician and academic Valerie Montgomery- Rice, M.D.; filmmaker Tyler Perry; singer Charley Pride; fashion designer Patrick Robinson; actress Maya Rudolph; musician RZA; filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles; and artist Kara Walker.

Mitchell is never heard or seen on camera, which allows the subjects' own voices to remain the focus. The actual title was first conceived by Mitchell as an antidote to the persistent taint that western culture has applied to the word "black."

Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and Elvis Mitchell conceptualized what would become "The Black List Project" in May 2006, discussing the idea of collaborating on a book on black culture, which led to the documentary. They wanted "The Black List Project" to be not just an enumeration of obstacles overcome, but also a unique source of insights that would emphasize the elegance and determination of its subjects.

A 2008 Sundance Film Festival selection, "The Black List: Vol. 1" debuted on HBO last August, and featured such notables as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sean Combs, Thelma Golden, Lou Gossett, Jr., Bill T. Jones, Vernon Jordan, Toni Morrison, Richard Parsons, Chris Rock, Al Sharpton, Slash, Faye Wattleton, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Serena Williams.

Inspired by "The Black List: Vol. 1," HBO launched a "Who's on Your Black List?" contest, asking viewers to submit a video of themselves, a relative, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor or anyone else who has a story to tell about his or her experience of what it's like to be black in America today. The four winning videos were selected by a distinguished panel of judges and general viewers and are currently viewable on whosonyourblacklist.com. In January 2009, the winners visited New York, where they had their portraits taken by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and were interviewed on film by Elvis Mitchell. Select clips from these interviews will be showcased on various HBO platforms throughout February.

HBO Documentary Films and Freemind Ventures & Perfect Day Films present THE BLACK LIST: VOL. 2. A film by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders & Elvis Mitchell. Directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders; interviews by Elvis Mitchell; producers, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Elvis Mitchell and Michael Slap Sloane; executive producers, Tommy Walker, Scott Richman, Christopher McKee and Payne Brown; associate producers, Lukas Hauser and Mary Bradley; editor, Benjamin Gray; music by Neal Evans; directors of photography, Joe Victorine and Graham Willoughby.

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Learning What It Takes for African-American and Hispanic Kids to Compete in a Global Economy

/PRNewswire/ -- January 27th the 100 Black Men of DeKalb in collaboration with seminar promotions and professional speaking company CS Inspires Inc. will be hosting the screening of a new documentary entitled "Two Million Minutes." This film exposes the true facts concerning the widening global education gap between American students and their peers in China and India. The underlining premise of the film raises the question, "Is the American education system adequately preparing our children with the necessary knowledge and skills to compete for jobs within a global economy?"

The title comes from the fact that as soon as a student completes the 8th grade, the clock starts ticking. From that moment, the child has approximately two million minutes until high school graduation, which means two million minutes to build their intellectual foundation, to prepare for college and ultimately career, to go from a teenager to an adult.

The film compares educational standards in the United States with those in India and China by following two students from each of these countries and interviewing them, as well as members of their families, about the priorities in their lives during their senior year in high school. The film is intended to spark discussions and dialogue about American education. How do Americans compare on a global scale? Twenty months in the making, "Two Million Minutes" highlights the various pressures and priorities of these students and their families, providing insight into the changing nature of competition in the knowledge economy.

An even more pressing concern is that African-American and Hispanic students are dropping out of high school at alarming rates. Latest statistics suggest that in seventeen of the nation's 50 largest cities, more than 50% of African-American and Hispanic 9th graders are failing to earn their high school diplomas. After the screening attendees will be encouraged to participate in solution based dialogue on how we can improve the quality of education in DeKalb County and surrounding communities.

This event is free to the public. Parents, educators local political, business and community leaders are encouraged to attend. The screening will take place on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at the McNair High School Auditorium located at 1804 Bouldercrest Blvd, SW Atlanta Georgia. The screening will start promptly at 6:00 PM.

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Georgia’s Uninsured Rate Holds Steady but Employer Coverage Loses Ground

Georgia’s Uninsured Rate Holds Steady but Employer Coverage Loses Ground

Georgia has the sixth highest number of residents without health insurance in the United States and ranks 11th in its percentage of the population lacking coverage, according to a new report from the Georgia Health Policy Center and the Center for Health Services Research at Georgia State University. In 2007, about 18 percent of all Georgians and 20 percent of those under age 65 (approximately 1.66 million people) were without health insurance — roughly the same number reported in 2005 and 2006 but higher than the national average of 15 percent (45.7 million Americans).

Nationally, the number of uninsured Americans decreased from 46.9 million in 2006 to 45.6 million in 2007 while Georgia’s number of uninsured remained constant.

The report is a combination of data from the U.S. Census Current Population Survey (CPS) and an independent Georgia Population Survey of more than 15,800 people commissioned by the Georgia Department of Community Health. The Georgia Population Survey was conducted between February and April 2008.

Though the overall number of uninsured Georgians remains relatively unchanged over the past few years, the share of the population with employer-based private insurance has declined over the past eight years while the share with publicly funded health plans (Medicaid, PeachCare) has edged upward. Between 2000 and 2007, the percentage of Georgians with private health insurance coverage dropped by about eight percentage points. And from 2000-'06, the percentage of uninsured non-elderly Georgians rose from 16 percent to 20 percent. All Georgians 65 or over are eligible for Medicaid and are therefore not included in the report.

Unemployment or employment with a small firm increases an individual’s likelihood of being uninsured. According to the report, roughly half of Georgia’s uninsured live in a family headed by someone who works for a small business with fewer than 100 employees.

And while the majority of Georgians have private insurance through companies large enough to provide it, the economic slowdown could leave thousands without coverage. More than 90 percent of Georgians with private health insurance have employer-based health plans, the report finds.

“When people lose their jobs, they lose their coverage,” said Bill Custer, director of the Center for Health Services Research in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State. “And throughout economic downturns, more people move into poverty, putting added strain on sources of public health coverage.”

According to the report, only one in five individuals living below poverty have private insurance and nearly 38 percent are uninsured.

In addition to employees of small businesses and those in poverty, other groups at particular risk for being uninsured include those in families headed by a part-time or part-year worker and young adults between the ages of 18 and 24, according to the report. And while those aged 45 to 65 were once the least likely to be uninsured, they’re the only age group to see an increase in the percentage of uninsured over the past two years.

Georgia’s men are also at risk – they’re more likely than women to go without coverage, but women are more likely than men to have public coverage.

Those surveyed who were without health coverage were also more likely to report being in poor health, increasing their likelihood of needing emergency care in the near future, Custer said.

As in past years, residents of Georgia’s rural areas, who are more likely to have low incomes and work for small firms, were also found to be more likely to lack health insurance than those living in urban/suburban areas. When grouped by public health district, about 22 percent of residents in Southeast and South Central Georgia health districts are uninsured; 21 percent in Southwest Georgia; 20 percent in North Georgia; and 19 percent in West Central, Northwest and Northeast Georgia districts.

By contrast, metro Atlanta has a significantly lower percentage of uninsured (though greater in its total number of uninsured due to its larger population). Only 12 percent of residents in the East Metro Georgia health district (including Gwinnett) are uninsured, 13 percent in Fulton, and 15 percent in the Cobb-Douglas and DeKalb districts. The only exception, according to the report, was Clayton County, in which 24 percent of residents are uninsured.

“Georgia’s relatively high rank nationally for uninsured residents has several causes,” said Patricia Ketsche, an associate professor in the Robinson College of Business. “We have a large rural population and rural workers are more likely to be employed at small firms. Rural residents usually have fewer options for employment and for coverage. And although parts of metro Atlanta have high coverage rates, there are other areas where a large number of families live at or near poverty.”

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Three Atlanta Indictments Announced as Part of Multi-State 'Operation Pay Cut' Drug Takedown

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three federal indictments unsealed yesterday in Atlanta charge a total of 41 defendants on multiple counts relating to a large-scale drug distribution and money laundering scheme operating in the Northern District of Georgia and the Southern District of Texas.

In a news conference at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Atlanta office, U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias said, "This is another case of a major cartel-related Mexican organization that processed huge amounts of illegal drugs and money through metro Atlanta to many other parts of the country. During this long-term investigation, we took away from the organization about $22 million dollars in drug money -- a record amount for an Atlanta case -- and hundreds of kilograms of the organization's cocaine and marijuana. We have now indicted dozens of its alleged members, who face long sentences in federal prison."

"Seizures such as this strike at the heart of the criminal organization by targeting the financial gain that enables their criminal enterprises to flourish," Kenneth Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Atlanta said. "This case is significant and highlights the cooperative effort of law enforcement working together under the David G. Wilhelm Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force to dismantle these dangerous organizations."

Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent-in-Charge Reginael D. McDaniel said, "Operation Pay Cut is confirmation that drug trafficking is all about the money. Seizing the dirty cash and the assets of these illegal organizations hits criminals where it hurts the most -- it deprives them of their profits."

According to the three indictments and information presented in court and other public records, this long-term, multi-agency investigation targeted a group of individuals, indicted and unindicted, who are a part of a cartel-related drug trafficking organization (DTO), which is involved in illegal drug trafficking and money laundering in and around Atlanta, South Texas and other areas. Since November 2006, law enforcement has seized approximately $22 million of drug proceeds, and approximately 223 kilograms of cocaine and more than 16,000 pounds of marijuana. Two auto sales and auto parts businesses, located in Texas, were allegedly used to launder large amounts of cash proceeds from the unlawful drug sales.

In one of the seizures, a former Hidalgo County Sheriff's deputy in Texas, Emmanuel Sanchez, was stopped on Interstate 20 in Georgia in a pickup truck hauling heavy equipment. During the traffic stop, conducted by the Georgia State Patrol, the defendant allegedly showed his law enforcement badge to the troopers in an effort to quickly conclude the traffic stop and questioning. Upon further investigation, law enforcement officers found $950,000 in cash hidden in the door and other areas of the truck. Sanchez immediately left his deputy position. In another traffic stop in Georgia, a large truck hauling livestock was pulled over, and defendants Jesus Flores Sr., and Jesus Flores Jr., were questioned. After the livestock was off-loaded, law enforcement officers located a hidden compartment under the livestock, and using the traffickers' complex pulley system under the floor, police found more than $13 million in cash in drug proceeds.

The penalties for the drug charges are a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison to life in prison, and the money laundering charges range up to 20 years in prison.

An indictment is merely a charge. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at www.justthinktwice.com.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of ICE and IRS-CI, along with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Atlanta Police Department; Georgia State Patrol Fayette County Sheriff's Office; DeKalb County Police Department; Coweta Sheriff's Office; Kennesaw Police Department; Newnan Police Department; Whitfield County Sheriff's Department; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Clayton County Police Department; and the Marietta-Cobb-Smyrna Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit.

Assistance in this case has been provided by the U.S. Attorney's Offices of the Southern District of Texas, and the Northern District of Texas, and the District Attorney's Offices of Fulton County and DeKalb County, and the Conasauga Judicial Circuit in Dalton, Ga.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa W. Tarvin, Bret R. Williams and Jeffrey Viscomi are prosecuting the case.

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Two Educators Get $25,000 Surprise DeKalb County and Marietta City teachers win Milken Award

A pair of Georgia teachers each got a $25,000 surprise on Tuesday.

Andrea King, from DeKalb County's Rock Chapel Elementary School, and Susan Grigg, from Sawyer Road Elementary School in Marietta, were named Georgia's 2008 National Milken Educators of the Year. The winning teachers receive $25,000 and other prizes. The Educator of the Year award is given by the Milken Family Foundation, of California.

State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox and Dr. Jane Foley, Senior Vice President of the Milken Family Foundation, made the surprise announcements at assemblies in each school on Tuesday.

"Andrea King and Susan Grigg are the kind of teachers that make Georgia proud," said Superintendent Cox. "They both work in schools where most of the students come from homes with serious economic challenges -- but they don't use that as an excuse. They combine high expectations, innovation and loving support to help their students achieve at the highest level possible. Congratulations to Andrea and Susan!"

The Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards provide recognition and unrestricted financial awards of $25,000 each to exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists who are furthering excellence in our nation’s schools. This year, alone, a total of up to $2 million in Milken Awards will be presented to up to 80 of America’s finest elementary educators. New Milken Educators also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles to participate in the Milken National Education Conference focused on solutions to America’s pressing challenges in education today.

“Nothing in America’s K-12 schools has more influence on student learning that the quality of the classroom teacher,” said Lowell Milken, Chairman of the foundation. “Highly effective teachers are the bedrock in constructing a world-class education system that meets our challenges and opportunities in this 21st century. It is a national imperative that we attract, retain and motivate people of talent to the profession. America’s prosperity depends on it.”

Superintendent Cox thanked the Milken Family Foundation for being a great friend to education.

"For 22 years, the Milken Foundation has been showing people around the nation that teaching is one of the most important professions in the world," Superintendent Cox said. "I am so grateful that they have made this commitment of time, energy and resources to recognize our great teachers!"

Potential nominees for the award are gathered by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and presented to a blue ribbon panel of judges that includes members of GaDOE, the education community and other stakeholders. The finalists are sent to the Milken Family Foundation, which chooses the two winners.

ABOUT THE WINNERS

Susan Grigg
Ms. Susan Grigg serves as the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme Coordinator at Sawyer Road Elementary, in the City of Marietta. Serving as a teacher for ten years prior to that, she was selected for this role because she demonstrated exceptional instructional practices that yield positive results in student achievement. She was instrumental in helping open the new Sawyer Road Elementary school in Marietta and guided her school through the authorization process to become an International Baccalaureate School. She also co-authored the conversion charter and charter implementation grant. She relates well to every type of teacher, those in the first year and veterans. Her community involvement ties closely with the Oceaneer Theater Company at Sawyer. This is a theater group for students in grades 2-5. Her efforts include soliciting for theater space, costumes, advertising and props. Because of her work, the students have had the opportunity to perform in a real theater in front of their peers, families, and community. Her dedication and intimate working relationships with teachers has led students' scores to go up in every subject.

Andrea King
Ms. Andrea King is an exemplary teacher who embodies the true spirit of transformation education. Working with both gifted and special needs students, she is an expert at differentiation. Her creative ways of teaching and out of the box thinking have led to some positive results in the classroom, some of which include Papier-mâché dinosaurs and Egyptian costumes. Ms. King has the ability to teach children from diverse backgrounds. She has also been pro-active in changing inappropriate student behavior at lunch by displaying flowers, tablecloths and formal place settings on lunchroom tables. She eats with her students and teaches proper table etiquette. She always volunteers for school activities and takes special interest in putting together the "Father-Daughter" Dance at her school. Currently working on her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, Ms. King is a life-long learner who continually researches ways to improve her teaching. She serves as the Professional Learning Liaison for the school and always takes the time to help other teachers improve their teaching skills. Ms. King is dedicated to providing children with an emotionally-safe environment and quality education. Her self-contained students earned a 100% pass rate on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test.
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The Wild Side of Georgia Tech

In a community where greater enrollment is often the goal, several members of the Tech community are concerned with keeping their numbers at a status quo.

Construction project manager Steven Johnson and utilities analyst Susan Wardrope work to keep feral cats on campus at a sustainable level, all while preventing more from moving in. Together with a network of campus participants, the group works on its own time—and in most cases, its own dime—to alter, monitor and feed these felines.

A part of Auxiliary Services during his “day” job, Johnson instills the practice of Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR), which works to equalize rather than eliminate feral cat populations. When animal control officers capture these cats, euthanasia is the typical result, as they are well past the age of human socialization. In doing this, a vacuum is created wherein other feral cats will just move into the area, continuing the cycle.

However, the central TNR theory is that a controlled community of altered cats aids in maintaining area populations and keeping more feral cats from moving in.

“The best advantages to having them altered is that they start to concentrate around the feeding stations, and they don’t have any urge to mate,” Wardrope said. “They have their food, their sleeping place and their area that they’re familiar with.”

“They defend their territory, keeping other cats from moving into the area, which stabilizes the population,” Johnson said. “An unaltered male will travel up to three miles. An altered cat will only travel about 300 meters.”

The program at Tech started in 1996. “We’d get reports of cats in the area,” said Johnson, who added he discovered students and employees were leaving food for the animals.

He said they counted 19 adult and juvenile cats on East Campus in those early days. In the first full feral cat census for the Institute, Johnson said they easily counted 179 cats in late 1998—32 in one colony that lived in the president’s glade. (Today, Johnson says, that colony is down to three occasional visitors.) Now, as far as Johnson and his group can tell, about 34 cats call Tech home, including only two or three unaltered females—which Johnson says he is still trying to trap.

According to the duo, 30 to 35 cats on campus is very sustainable. Each feeding station has enough of a colony for one dominant male and one dominant female that protect the territory. This “territorial management practice” leads to a fairly accurate understanding of where overlap between the colonies exists.

Johnson and Wardrope work to answer the call—literally—if someone reports a cat on campus. “I’ll go out that night, see if it’s a new cat or one of our own,” Johnson said. “If it’s a new cat, I’ll try to stake it out and see where it’s going—to established food stations or somewhere else.” Sometimes, Johnson said, people who don’t know about the campus program put a food dish outside of a building for any “strays” they see.

If it is determined that a sighted cat is a new “resident,” Johnson traps it—an undertaking that may require several hours of waiting. (“I know all the third-shift police officers by name.”) He keeps the caged animal in his garage overnight and then carries it to the vet the next morning. The cats are neutered or spayed, vaccinated—many for the first time—and dosed with flea control medication. Males are released the following day after surgery. Females are released three days later. For captured kittens, Johnson either finds adoptive families or takes them to no-kill shelters after they are socialized.

“Without a feeding program to localize a colony, you’ll continue to have mangy-looking cats that are more susceptible to diseases and other vectors that they can catch.” But, in what could be seen as a disadvantage in the program, unaltered females tend to have larger litters because of the better nutrition. “When we first started, cats were giving birth to four, where only 50 percent survived. Now they can give birth to a litter of nine, and seven will survive,” he said.

One challenge Johnson and Wardrope have noticed is well-wishers often will leave food out, which aids in diluting established feeding stations. “We leave a note and let them know,” he said. “We’re trying to get the word out that there is a good program—just by going from 179 to 34 cats shows it’s working.”

But Johnson and Wardrope are by no means acting alone. Roughly 30 people are on his e-mail list, Johnson said, and about six handle the campus-wide feeding stations. Johnson himself handles the heavy lifting: tracking the cats’ movements and trapping them.

“We just started doing this out-of-pocket,” Johnson said. Through the e-mail network, however, people donated food and money for surgeries beyond spaying and neutering.

The duo’s efforts have led to collaborations outside the Institute. When Fulton County’s Animal Control units respond to an on-campus call, Johnson receives a courtesy call if it’s a cat issue. This in turn has expanded his TNR efforts, establishing partnerships with Fulton, Cobb, Douglas and DeKalb counties.

“It’s a quid pro quo,” he says. “Fulton County has the Fix ‘Em Free program. When they found out we were running this initiative at Tech, they offered us use of this program. In exchange, when they have reports of a feral colony somewhere, I’m available to go out and talk to people [about TNR].”

In assisting with feral cat colonies in off-campus communities, Johnson explains the Trap, Neuter and Return philosophy, letting people know the usual fate of a feral animal taken to a shelter. “Once people learn about the program, and Steve offers to take [the cats] in to have them altered and vaccinated, they usually have no problem throwing food out for them,” Wardrope said.

“I volunteer to support both the Fulton County Animal Services and Catlanta, a local organization that is basically the feral cat coordinator of the Lifeline Animal Project.” Catlanta recently received a grant to aid in the spaying and neutering of feral cats within the area. It’s a supplement to what Fulton County currently provides, and the group is now in negotiations with DeKalb County to create a similar “Fix ‘Em Free” program.

“We’ll help get them spayed or neutered, all of them are vaccinated for rabies [and] they can receive additional vaccinations, if requested,” Johnson said, adding that almost all counties have a low-cost program that supplements the cost of altering a cat or dog. “I mainly concentrate on the feral cats, and I’ll go out and do the assessment—is it just a backyard colony; or an abandoned cat colony that’s gone feral. Then I’ll report to the agency that’s going to sponsor it—Catlanta [or] Southern Hope.”

And evidence points to TNR reducing the load on animal shelters. Excepting a spike due to foreclosure increases, Johnson said, Fulton County has noticed a marked reduction in the amount of feral cats brought to the shelter.

According to Johnson, Atlanta-area programs have attracted the attention of several national organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States and Alley Cat Allies (which fights for TNR protocols nationwide). “We haven’t gotten our city commissions to enact ordinances yet, but we’re working toward that.”

Some organizations, however, oppose the principles of TNR, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), The Wildlife Society and the American Bird Conservancy. PETA states on its Web site: “Because of the huge number of feral cats and the severe shortage of good homes, the difficulty of socialization, and the dangers lurking where most feral cats live, it may be necessary—and the most compassionate choice—to euthanize feral cats. ... If you leave them where they are, they will almost certainly die a painful death. A painless injection is far kinder than any fate that feral cats will meet if they are left to survive on their own.”

Johnson doesn’t see it that way.

“In a managed colony, human caretakers have just made portions of [the cats’] lives easier by removing the stress of producing multiple litters,” he said. “By offering a tended food station, caretakers provide a steady supplemental food source, which also permits the cats to be observed for injuries and, when necessary, to be trapped for treatment. A minority of cats specialize in bird hunting as opposed to rodent hunting,” Johnson concedes. “But rodents are still the main natural prey species of outdoor cats. Just because one might kill a chipmunk or Carolina wren does not mean they, as a species living within a habitat, deserve to be exterminated.”

Overall, Johnson and Wardrope are trying to get the feral cat management plan under way in the metro area, and then slowly branch out to the outlying counties. And he’s been reaching out to other University System of Georgia units.

But as for Tech, the next steps for the program include establishing the Library and Information Center’s feeding station and then moving further north on campus to the Howey building and the College of Computing. “We’ve gotten reports from the building manager, as well as from the College of Computing, that they’ve seen cats in the area. We’re trying to identify where would be the best place to establish a feeding station.”

Southern Company and Environmental Partners Award Wetland Restoration Grants Through Five Star Program

PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southern Company, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Association of Counties and Wildlife Habitat Council announced today that 10 new wetland, riparian and coastal conservation grants have been awarded in the Southeast through the Five Star Restoration Program.

This year, Southern Company provided $246,000 in grants and, combined with partner matching funds, a total of nearly $532,000 will benefit projects in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. Since 2006, Southern Company has contributed $621,000 through 33 grants, resulting in an on-the-ground conservation impact of $1.89 million.

"EPA's Five Star Restoration Grant Program will help promote conservation and environmental stewardship in these communities," said Jimmy Palmer, EPA Regional Administrator. "Community-based projects, such as these, improve environmental awareness among local residents and create lasting relationships for protecting and sustaining wetlands, streams and coasts."

The Five Star Restoration Program is a national initiative providing financial and technical support to wetland, riparian and coastal habitat restoration projects. It brings together citizen groups, corporations, students, landowners, youth conservations corps, and local, state and federal government agencies to build diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship through education, outreach and training activities. In 2006, Southern Company pledged $1.2 million over five years to fund community-based, wetland and streamside restoration across its four-state service territory. Additionally, Southern Company collaborates with the program partners to select the projects each year and distribute funds to grantees.

"As Five Star Restoration's lead corporate sponsor for the Southern region, Southern Company has committed five years of matching funds for projects in our region," said Chris Hobson, senior vice president of research and environmental affairs for Southern Company. "Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, providing habitat for reptiles, fish, waterfowl, mammals, plants and more. Grassroots efforts through this program will make a significant contribution to our environmental landscape and underscore the importance of healthy wetlands environments in the communities we serve."

The following grants have been awarded in Georgia for 2008:

-- Conasauga River Alliance - to treat 500 linear feet of collapsing streambank in order to restore riparian integrity to a 3,800-foot segment of Swamp Creek, a tributary to the Conasauga River. The site will be used for an in-field, community-based workshop to showcase actual installation of currently underutilized, ecologically-preferable streambank stabilization techniques to area developers, designers and landowners. Additional project partners include Whitfield County, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Limestone Valley RC&D Council, D2 Land and Water Resources and private landowners.

-- DeKalb County Parks Department - to restore and protect more than one-half acre of wetlands at the historic Evans Mill site, including 200 linear feet of riparian buffer, along Pole Bridge Creek. Junk automobile parts and other debris will be removed from the project area along with invasive plant species and restored with native plants. The site will serve as a rest/picnic area at the terminus of a nearby multi-use trail and five local schools will be involved. Project partners include DeKalb County Parks and Greenspace - Office and Department of Watershed Management, Salem Middle School, University of Georgia Extension 4H Program and University of Georgia Alumni Association - DeKalb Chapter.

-- Georgia Wildlife Federation - to restore 3.5 acres of wetlands along the Alcovy River at East End Road in Covington. Invasive exotic flora will be removed and replanted with desirable native wetland species. This will be used as a demonstration site to educate the community about the economic and ecological values of healthy riverine ecosystems. Additional project partners include The Conservation Fund, Georgia Future Farmers of America-Future Career and Community Leaders of America, Georgia River Fishing, Newton County Keep Covington-Newton Beautiful, Oxford College of Emory University, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Environmental Protection Division, Adopt-A-Stream and Rivers Alive, Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, Newton County Extension and Master Gardeners and Air Conditioning Specialists.

-- Chattahoochee RiverWatch, Inc. - to restore 2.2 miles of riparian forest buffer along Lindsey Creek from Macon Road to Bull Creek, a major tributary of the Chattahoochee River watershed. The project will engage the local community in stewardship of their water resources and help produce an education video about the impacts of storm water and non-point source pollution on water quality in the watershed. Additional project partners include Columbus Consolidated Government, Columbus State University Environmental Science Program and Georgia Forestry Commission.

-- Elachee Nature Science Center - to restore 15 acres of riparian forests of the Chicopee Woods by treating exotic invasive plants and restoring the area with diverse native plants. This site will help train volunteers and teach the public and local elementary students about the threat of exotic invasive plants in Georgia and promote local conservation efforts. Additional project partners include Chicopee Woods Area Park Commission, Chicopee Woods Weed Management Area, Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council and City of Gainesville.

-- Upper Oconee Watershed Network - to restore 800 feet of riparian buffer and streamside wetlands in the Trail Creek Watershed. This effort will be used to teach citizens about the relationship between residential land management and riparian habitat condition, stream health, downstream water quality, and the species that depend on these ecologically valuable corridors. This project will provide local residents with tools to initiate their own backyard wetland habitat improvements and the project will conduct a series of workshops to educate and engage local citizens in watershed health and maintenance. Additional project partners include Oconee River Greenway Commission, Chicopee-Dudley Neighborhood Association, University of Georgia, Athens-Clarke County Departments of Leisure Services, Public Works and Central Services and Athens Garden Club.

The goal of EPA's Wetlands program is to motivate and inspire the Nation to value, protect and restore the ecological integrity of its wetlands and aquatic ecosystems. The Wetlands Program accomplishes this through co-leadership of the Clean Water Act's wetlands regulatory program, and by fostering effective wetlands management in strategic partnerships with states, tribes, local governments and other key partners. EPA's vision is for America to have abundant and healthy wetlands and aquatic ecosystems that sustain biologically diverse plant and animal life, improve water quality, protect communities from flooding and provide recreational opportunities.

Two Men Sentenced for Making False Bomb Threat to CDC

QUANTAVIOUS GREENE, 28, of Jackson, Georgia, and ELIJAH CHANDLER, 21, of College Park, were sentenced today (July 16, 2008) by United States District Judge Orinda D. Evans on charges of aiding and abetting one another in using the telephone to call in a false bomb threat to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and later making false statements to FBI agents regarding the call.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of the case, “Bomb threats, whether real or false, cause untold costs to the community in terms of law enforcement response, lost working hours, and fear. Anyone who may be inclined to make a bomb threat on a whim should understand that we take those threats very seriously no matter the motivation. One of these defendants wanted to get off work early. Now he and his codefendant are going to federal prison.”

GREENE was sentenced to 4 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. GREENE pleaded guilty to the charges on November 15, 2007. CHANDLER was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. CHANDLER pleaded guilty to the charges on January 25, 2008.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: On April 14, 2006, the CDC Office in Atlanta received a telephone call from a blocked telephone number. The caller stated that a bomb had been placed in the building and identified himself using the name of a former employee of the CDC who had been fired. DeKalb County Police responded and searched the building, but did not find any explosive devices. On the date the call was made, ELIJAH CHANDLER was employed by the CDC as a contract worker. Through a lengthy investigation, FBI agents determined that the former employee whose name was given by the caller did not make the call. Ultimately, the investigation led to GREENE and CHANDLER, both of whom at first gave false statements to the agents about their knowledge of the telephone call and telephone number used. The false statements further impeded the investigation. GREENE later confessed to making the call, stating that CHANDLER urged him to do so so that CHANDLER could leave work early.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Monahan Hoffer prosecuted the case.

Emory Rated as 'Great College To Work For'

Emory University has been recognized in an online survey conducted by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the 2008 "Great Colleges to Work For."

Emory was rated among the top five in 13 of 27 categories in the survey of 15,000 respondents at 89 colleges and universities. Results are reported for small, medium and large universities, with Emory included among the large universities with 2,500 or more employees.

"This is a very satisfying affirmation of Emory, but our real goal is not recognition -- it's being a community that values the needs and contributions of every individual. In that sense everyone at Emory helps to make this a positive place to work," says Emory University President James Wagner.

Emory ranked among the top five universities in the nation for:

• Healthy faculty/administration relations
• Teaching environment
• Facilities and security
• Job satisfaction
• Work-life balance
• Confidence in senior leadership
• Internal communications
• Connection to institution and pride
• Physical workspace conditions
• Supervisor or department chair relationship
• Perception and confidence in fair treatment
• Respect and appreciation
• Engagement index

The assessment process, which also included an analysis of demographic data and workplace policies at each participating college or university, was administered by ModernThink LLC, a human-resources consulting firm that has conducted many "Best Places to Work" surveys.

With 21,129 employees (and approximately 3,200 faculty), Emory is the largest employer in DeKalb County and the largest private employer in metro Atlanta. The total includes Emory University, Emory Hospital, Crawford Long Hospital, The Emory Clinic and Wesley Woods, Inc.

Wal-Mart Commits to America's Farmers as Produce Aisles Go Local

PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wal-Mart today (July 1, 2008) announced its commitment to source more local fruits and vegetables to keep produce prices down and provide affordable selections that are fresh and healthful. The retailer also reported that partnerships with local farmers have grown by 50 percent over the past two years -- one example of the company's efforts to support local economies, cut shipping costs and provide fresh food offerings.

Today, hundreds of growers across the United States provide produce sold in Wal-Mart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, making Wal-Mart the nation's largest purchaser of local produce. During summer months, locally sourced fruits and vegetables that are both grown and available for purchase within a state's borders make up a fifth of the produce available in Wal-Mart stores.

"Offering local produce has been a Wal-Mart priority for years, and we're taking it to a new level with a pledge to grow our partnerships with local farmers. We're committed to purchasing locally grown produce whenever possible," said Pam Kohn, Wal-Mart's senior vice president and general merchandise manager for grocery. "Increasing the amount of local produce in our grocery aisles -- and adding clear locally grown signage -- reflects our dedication to offer the freshest products possible at great prices."

Wal-Mart announced its locally grown commitment in a Supercenter in DeKalb County, Ga. today. The event featured an in-store farmers' market with growers on hand to educate customers about produce. Just in time for the Fourth of July, Georgia Wal-Mart Supercenters have many of the ingredients customers need for a locally grown celebration: sweet Georgia-grown Vidalia onions for their Independence Day burgers, Georgia cantaloupes and watermelons for a fabulous fruit salad, and Georgia peaches for cobbler. A complete list of locally grown produce available by state is at http://www.livebetterindex.com/.

"Georgia is proud of its family farmers who lead the production of many important fruits and vegetables like our famous Georgia peaches and watermelons," said Donnie Smith, Governor Sonny Perdue's Agriculture Liaison. "Thanks to Georgia producers and companies like Wal-Mart, Georgia will continue to be recognized as a trusted provider of high quality fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products to feed America's families."

Georgia onion farmer Delbert Bland is one of the growers who participated in the Decatur event. His family farm has been in operation in Glennville, Ga. since the 1940s, and he is featured on in-store signage in the Atlanta area.

"We are proud to see our onions sold in Wal-Mart stores across Georgia and knowing that we are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is an added value," said Bland. "Our business would not be where it is today without the support of Wal-Mart."

Economic Impact

Wal-Mart estimates that it purchases more than 70 percent of its produce from U.S.-based suppliers, making the company the biggest customer of American agriculture. This year, Wal-Mart expects to source about $400 million in locally grown produce from farmers across the United States.

Wal-Mart's relationships with U.S. suppliers also extend beyond its support of local agriculture. Beyond produce, Wal-Mart partnered with 61,000 U.S. suppliers in 2007 and supported millions of supplier jobs nationally.

Shortening the Distance from Farm to Fork

Beyond the benefits to consumers and economic opportunities for farmers, Wal-Mart's commitment to locally grown produce is helping to reduce "food miles" -- the distance food travels from farm to fork. It is estimated that in the United States, produce travels an average of 1,500 miles from farms to the homes of consumers. Through better logistics planning, better packing of trucks and local sourcing, Wal-Mart expects to save millions of food miles each year.

In addition, Wal-Mart is working with state departments of agriculture and local farmers to develop or revitalize growing areas for products like corn in Mississippi and cilantro in Southern Florida which had not grown there before or which were once native crops.

New In-Store Presence

Wal-Mart now highlights locally grown produce in its stores across the country. Customers will find it easy to recognize locally grown fruits and vegetables with signs that include official state-grown marks, indicating approval by their state's agriculture department.