Many Merry Hills and local residents (1,100 of them have signed their names) have been worried for months that Sembler’s proposed “Atlantic Station-lite” at N. Druid and Briarcliff will exacerbate an already horrific traffic problem at the intersection.

Anyone following this story knows that Sembler needs the DeKalb County Commission to rezone some of the land it has acquired to go ahead with its mixed-use design. Well, last Friday the AJC reported that Sembler had donated $20,000 to a cheerleading club (Vikings Spirit Booster Club) at Lakeside High School that has direct ties to DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer. Not only are both of Boyer’s girls cheerleaders at the school, but according to the AJC, Boyer herself is listed as a contact for the group. The icing on the cake is that the group didn’t even exist until this school year.

Someone needs to get to the bottom of this story. Smells fishy to me.  The comments section over on GoDeKalb discussing another Boyer-related article speculates on the story…

Rep. Stan Watson will hold an open forum Tuesday night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m at Holy Trinity Church at 515 E. Ponce de Leon Ave, regarding dog and cat euthanization in DeKalb county. According to Watson “More dogs and cats are killed in Atlanta shelters than in the entire country of Great Britain,”. That’s a pretty shocking statement and I would welcome any elaboration on it in the comments section.

Conditions at the DeKalb Animal Shelter have been in the media spotlight since last year when two dogs died in hot trucks that lacked air-conditioning. CEO Jones wants to acquire new vans and is still seeking money from the state legislature to build a entirely new shelter facility.

Let’s hope this issue continues to be covered. Not only does the county need a new facility, but we all need to take more responsibility for our pets. Listen to Bob Barker and don’t be a backyard breeder.