Archived News

Police identify bicyclist killed in accident

The Decatur Police Department has identified the bicyclist killed in an accident Monday, April 30, at approximately 6:23 a.m. in the 2200 block of North Decatur Road.  He is 53-year-old Paul Taylor of Atlanta. The police investigation revealed Taylor was struck by a Ford Ranger truck that was traveling eastbound on North Decatur Road. He was in the inside lane of North Decatur Road at Willivee Drive. Taylor was wearing a bicycle helmet at the time of the accident.  He was transported to the DeKalb Medical Center where he was pronounced as dead, according to police. The accident is still under investigation by the Decatur Police Department Accident Investigation Unit.  

DeKalb CEO vetoes commissioners’ public information officer

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis has vetoed a plan by the Board of Commissioners to move $75,000 from his budget to fund a public information officer for the board.

The April 30 veto states that moving the funds would also take away a $75,000 reimbursement from the county’s special tax district unincorporated fund.

“At a time when the county faces a number of potential adverse financial impacts…it would be irresponsible to burden the tax funds with an additional $75,000 expenditure,” Ellis stated in a memo to commissioners.

Ellis also said that “the operation of broadcast, digital and cable television services by the Board of Commissioners violates” the county’s organizational act.     

The board had voted 6-1 to move the funds to be used for its own public information officer, who would broadcast via the internet all public meetings of the Board of Commissioners and its various committees, according to the resolution.        

Commissioners proposed getting their own public information officer after Ellis’ administration denied repeated requests to cover the board’s February budget process.

 Kiddies Olympics to be at Hallford Stadium

The annual Kiddie Olympics will be held at Hallford Stadium in Clarkston, May 3, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Approximately 40-50 child care facilities with more than 3,000 pre-k students ages 3-5 along with teachers and parents from metro-Atlanta will engage in healthy competition to earn prizes and be taught the importance of exercise and good physical fitness.

The Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Owner Operator Association, is partnering with the President’s Challenge Program to sponsor the national event, which will feature the 20-yard dash, pogo ball race, sack race, tricycle race and tug-of-war.