Archived News

Decatur book festival appoints new board president

The AJC Decatur Book Festival has appointed Judy Turner as its new board president.

Turner, who is currently the vice president of the Private Bank of Buckhead, will begin her work for the seventh annual festival June 30.

The book festival has elected two new vice presidents—Linda Harris, the assistant director of community and economic development for the city of Decatur; and Brett Gadsen, assistant professor of African-American studies at Emory University.

In addition to the officers, board members include Decatur attorney George Bradford; James K. Diedrick, professor of English and associate dean of Agnes Scott College; Will Johnston, manager of community and customer engagement for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; and Alison Weissinger, director of the DeKalb County Public Library.

Water main breaks on Rockdale Road

DeKalb County Police have been called to establish a safety zone around a water main break on Rockbridge Road near the intersection of Kenridge Circle. 

DeKalb County spokesman Burke Brennan said news media crews have been obstructing work crews since 9 a.m. A contractor has had to pull one of the reporters out of the mud, Brennan said. 

The water main break reportedly began Wednesday afternoon and has caused extensive damage to several neighborhoods and apartments in the area.

Simon scholars award banquet

The Simon Foundation will hold an awards banquet for students awarded the Simon Scholarship in 2012 at the Emory University Conference Center Hotel, located at 1615 Clifton Road.

The banquet will be held from 6-9 p.m. and will feature a dinner buffet and an awards program.

The Simon Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps disadvantaged youth throughout the country. Simon Scholars begin the program as they enter their junior year in high school and participate in life skills training, academic preparation and team building activities with their Simon Scholar peers during their last two years in high school.

DeKalb spelling bee champ competes in national semifinals

DeKalb County School District student and Georgia State Spelling Bee champion Simola Nayak is competing in the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee today, May 31.

The event, in Washington, D.C., will be covered throughout the day on ESPN and began at 10 a.m. Regular updates will also be provided on the DeKalb Schools Twitter feed at Twitter.com/DeKalbSchools

Nayak recently completed the eighth grade at Henderson Middle School. She won the DeKalb County School District Spelling Bee in February and the Georgia State Spelling Bee in March.