WWW.CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM • FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 • VOL. 15, NO. 8 • FREE FREEP•RESS A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS • Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker and Stone Mountain. Vet invests in future vets WHYIS SHE Dr. Paula Murray, WHYa veterinarian at Snapfinger CreekIS Animal SHE Hospital in Decatur, is the advisor for a Veterinary Explorers program. The pro- gram allows students likeSO Shawna Wilson and Micah Seals to get hands-on experience with veterinary science. Photos by Andrew Cauthen by Andrew Cauthen SO [email protected] SHE HAPPY ? WHY tudents in DeKalb County HAPPY ? are learning that veteri- SO nary science is not about playing with puppies and HAPPYSkittens. ? “It is sometimes, but most WHYIS SHE of the time…we do a lot of pre- ventative medication,” said Dr. SO Paula Murray, a veterinarian at HAPPY ? Snapfinger Creek Animal Hos- pital on Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur. “There are times when we are dealing with animals that are stressed or hurt or injured. “Sometimes we have to help clients make difficult decisions about their pets,” Murray said. Murray is an adviser who runs an Explorers program for students ing to learn more about those occu- “Most people just come and ask,” ment of Agriculture. ages 14-20 who are considering pations. said Murray, who has not actively “It looks good on your resume, veterinary medicine as a career. “I’ve had people in the past say, recruited for the program in DeKalb. too, when applying to vet school,” “My job is to expose them to ‘I’ve discovered this is not the path I “And I say ‘yes’ because I feel I need Murray said. all the aspects of veterinary medi- want to take,’” Murray said. “That’s to give back. If somebody needs to Shawna Wilson, a 17-year-old cine—the nice, the not so nice,” what the program is for. They dis- be mentored, I’m happy to mentor.” Southwest DeKalb High student, has said Murray, a 1984 graduate of cover whether it’s something they In addition to hands-on time, helped deliver a puppy at the animal Tuskegee University. “That way want to do or not.” the participants meet once a month hospital. they can make a true assessment.” Murray, who started working at to discuss various cases and hear Because“I she revived gets her news it and updates made online surefrom the it The was Champion. Explorers is a Boy Scout pro- the southBecause DeKalb she clinic gets in her May news 2011, updates from online guest from speakers the The such Champion. as animal breathing and screaming—healthy,” gram in which participants can began the ExplorersBecause she program gets her there news updatesdermatologists, online from ophthalmologists, the The Champion. Andsaid Wilson, you can who too! participates Follow us. in the follow career-based professions after a client asked if his son could veterinarians of large animals and program twice a week. “At first I was such as engineering or firefight- shadow AndMurray.And you you can can too! too! Followrepresentatives Follow us. us.from the U.S. Depart- nervous,www.facebook.com/ but it was exciting.”championnewspaper Because she gets her news updates online from the The Champion. www.twitter.com/See Vet onchampionnews Page 15A www.facebook.com/championnewspaper www.facebook.com/championnewspaper And you can too! Follow us. www.twitter.com/championnews www. championnewspaper.com www.twitter.com/championnews www.facebook.com/championnewspaper www.twitter.com/championnews www. championnewspaper.com www. championnewspaper.com www. championnewspaper.com HunGER kEEps Page 2A The Champion Free Press,up Friday, On May 18, 2012 cuRREnT HEVEunGERnTs, CRIME BRIEFS kTOOEEps. DeKalb men Department of Transporta- up1 in 6 Am OnERicAns killed has not been released as interim president of GPC sTRuGGlEs WiTH HunGER. charged in Social tion, DeKalb County and at this time. from 2005-06 and begins the State Road and Tollway his second stint on May 14. cuRREnT Circle killing Authority. Watts has had an exten- To view a simulation of sive career in the University EVEnTs, Two DeKalb County men the I-285 and Ashford Dun- Rob Watts named System. He was chief op- were arrested May 10 for the woody Interchange DDI, erating officer for the USG TOO. killing of a man whose body visit www.perimetercid.org. interim president of until earlier this year, a was found in Social Circle. 1 in 6 AmERicAns GPC position he held since 2006. sTRuGGlEs WiTH HunGER. Corey Thomas, 20, of From 2002-05, Watts served Decatur, and Antonio Jones, as a senior policy adviser to 24, of Stone Mountain, were University System of SWAT standoff Georgia Chancellor Hank the chancellor and the in- arrested and charged with terim director of the Gwin- the murder of Akili Jabari ends with two Huckaby on May 9 named Rob Watts as interim presi- nett University Center in Stewart, whose body was arrests Lawrenceville, Ga. discovered March 29 in a dent of Georgia Perimeter College. He first joined GPC (then wooded area near I-20 in So- Two burglary suspects known as DeKalb College) cial Circle. Anthony Tricoli re- were arrested May 10, after signed as GPC president in 1986, and served for five Stewart’s body was found DeKalb County Police De- TOGETHER earlier that week and was years as director of insti- WE’RE when firefighters were called partment’s SWAT team was tutional research and plan- to put out a brush fire near reassigned to the university called to a Clarkston apart- system central office. ning. the interstate. ment complex. Watts previously served Hunger is closer than you think. Reach out to An autopsy by the Geor- your local food bank for ways to do your part. DeKalb police officers Visit FeedingAmerica.org today. gia Bureau of Investigation were following up on case Medical Examiner’s Office from May 2 in which a revealed Stewart, 36, died of Stone Mountain Police offi- gunshot wounds. cer’s home was burglarized TOGETHER The crime is being inves- and guns were among the WE’RE tigated by the Social Circle items stolen. Police Department, GBI Ath- Officers were at the com- Hunger is closer than you think. Reach out to ens Regional Office and the your local food bank for ways to do your part. plex following up on tips at Visit FeedingAmerica.org today. state Fire Marshal’s Office. a unit of the Highland Vil- lage Apartments, according to Mekka Parish, police spokeswoman. Police have Perimeter not released the names of community holding the people arrested. traffic simulation Two of the three people inside the unit came out, A new type of traffic Parish said. A third person interchange designed to in- escaped and was still at crease traffic flow is under large as of early May 11 and construction in the Perimeter police said he is a suspect area. in the burglary of the Stone Drivers can learn how to Mountain officer’s home. navigate Georgia’s first di- The person is also wanted verging diamond interchange by Clarkston Police for (DDI) when the Perimeter armed robbery. Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs) hosts a test drive Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Perimeter Doraville home Mall. The demonstration will intruders identified be in the event lot on the cor- ner of Ashford Dunwoody Khaleaf Silvera and Road and Perimeter Center Alfred Wilson are facing West. charges of aggravated as- Golf carts will be used sault, armed robbery, false on a simulated track to al- imprisonment, kidnapping low drivers to experience the and felony murder after a new DDI interchange that is Doraville home invasion being created at I-285 and that left one person dead. Ashford Dunwoody Road. In the early-morning A valid driver’s license is hours of May 8, three men required to participate in the broke into a home on the test drive. 3900 block of Doral Drive Refreshments will be by climbing through a win- provided and the first 100 dow. They then tied the participants who complete hands of three of the four the DDI test drive will re- residents inside the home. ceive free “Can You DDI?” Doraville Police Sgt. T-shirts. Gene Callaway said one of The PCIDs initiated the the bound residents was able Ashford Dunwoody DDI to grab a gun and shoot one project, which is a partner- of the intruders. The name ship project with the Georgia of the suspect who was Page 3A The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 18, 2012 Police alarmed by false calls by Andrew Cauthen so you can squash that call, false alarms,” May said. [email protected] meaning no officers, no fire- “Every time a police officer fighters should come to your or firefighter is dispatched DeKalb County leaders residence. to a false alarm that means hope new fines will reduce “If that call by your they cannot be dispatched in the number of false alarms alarm company is not other areas of the county.” the police department re- responded to [is] when our Commissioner Sharon sponds to each year. firefighters and police -of Barnes Sutton said imple- In 2009, 95 percent of ficers are dispatched,” May menting the fines “is some- the alarms responded to by said. “If that call is a false thing good for the county the police department were alarm [is] when the fine and it actually works.” false alarms, according to would occur. Police Chief William county reports. “This is meant to get O’Brien said other locali- “Many people in the pub- people to be more respon- ties that have implemented lic…may be upset at first sible with their alarms,” false alarm fines have been that we would charge a fee May said.