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Daniel Beauregard

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Trial underway for martial arts instructor accused of raping 9-year-old student

The 9-year-old victim of alleged rapist Adrian Spellen, 29, testified that the defendant raped her multiple times during a summer camp held at his karate studio in Lithonia. Spellen, a 2012 Olympic hopeful, was charged in July with two counts of rape...

Residents, teachers, advocates discuss proposed charter amendment

Attendees crowded into the International Community School’s auditorium Oct. 17 to hear from advocates who are for, and against, the charter school amendment on the November election ballot. Photo by Daniel Beauregard
With the November elections several weeks away, one of the major issues residents will be voting on is Amendment 1, which involves the creation of state-funded charter schools. A large group of parents, community members and others gathered at the In...

Trial underway for martial arts instructor accused of raping 9-year-old student

The 9-year-old victim of alleged rapist Adrian Spellen, 29, testified that the defendant raped her multiple times during a summer camp held at his karate studio in Lithonia. Spellen, a 2012 Olympic hopeful, was charged in July with two counts of rape...

Cop-killer sentenced to life without parole

A jury sentenced cop-killer William Woodard Oct. 19 to spend the rest of his life in prison for murdering two DeKalb County police officers in 2008. Woodard admitted to shooting the officers but claimed he did it in self-defense after the officers pu...

Trial starts for karate teacher accused of rape

The trial of a Lithonia martial arts instructor accused of raping one of his students began Oct. 18. Adrian Spellen, 29, was indicted on two counts of rape and one count of child molestation for allegedly raping a 9-year-old girl. Spellen, the owner ...

Long-running DeKalb Symphony begins another season

Since 1964 the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra (DSO) has been performing concerts with both contemporary and symphonic repertoire and the majority of its 85 musicians don’t get paid a dime—they volunteer. “We’re just continuing our wonderful journe...

Jury begins deliberating accused cop killer's fate

Lawyers in the trial of accused cop killer William Woodard gave their closing arguments to jurors Oct. 11. The trial began Oct. 2 and included testimony from eyewitnesses, ballistics experts, crime scene experts and the DeKalb County medical examiner...

Fourth-grader inspired by visit with civil rights icon

Family members Joey Pate, Laurie Culp, Maddy Pate and Haley Pate, met Congressman John Lewis during a recent trip to Washington, DC. Haley Pate said hearing Lewis’ stories of his involvement with the Civil Rights movement changed her life.
Haley Pate, a fourth-grader at 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue in Decatur, said when civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis spoke to her third grade class last year it changed her life. “His words were so intriguing,” Pate said. “He had been thro...

Decatur Housing Authority finishes second phase of revitalization project

Oliver House, the third phase in a Decatur Housing Authority revitalization project, celebrated its grand opening Sept. 26. The new building is an 80-unit elderly housing community with affordable rent that was built as part of the ongoing revitalization of the Allen Wilson Community in downtown Decatur at 1450 Commerce Drive. Photo by Daniel Beauregard
The Decatur Housing Authority (DHA) celebrated the opening of Oliver House Sept. 26. The new facility is an 80-unit senior housing community, which was built as a part of the ongoing revitalization of the Allen Wilson Community in downtown Decatur. T...

DCSD releases proposed calendars for public comment

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has released two proposed calendars and is asking the public to comment on the options. Last year, Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson proposed calendar changes for this fall but decided to wait to implement any ch...