Committee defers policy on illegal tire dumping ► PAGE 2
Fe b r u a r y 2 6 , 2 0 2 6 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | S e r v i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y s i n c e 1 9 7 6
Draft proposal lists 27 schools that may close in redistricting
GOLDEN LIONS 79, TIGERS 54
By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com
sophomore Sterling Pritchett scored 16 points apiece in the loss. The lead went back and forth between the teams into the second quarter until St. Pius pulled away with a 20-0 run and never relinquished that lead. Tucker senior JaKobe Williams missed the region final due to ACL surgery that morning. Williams suffered an injury last month that ended his season. He had been averaging 19 points a game.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The DeKalb County School District has announced the potential closure of 27 schools and the expansion of 11 in its first release of redistricting scenarios. The potential closures provoked criticism and concerns, with many parent groups rallying to defend their local schools. Parents of schools that were over capacity were surprised to see their schools on the potential closure list. Some in South DeKalb, a community facing the brunt of the closures, are urging district officials to reconsider. DeKalb Schools also faces questions on whether to pause current renovations underway or planned for several schools that may close. Executive Director of Student Assignment Sarita Smith said there will be multiple rounds of scenarios to consider, with feedback provided before the school board approves them. “This is going to happen several times,” Smith said. “What we start with is definitely not going to be what we end up with, and that is intentional because if we started at the end, then we didn’t give the community a chance to give us input.”
See BASKETBALL, Page 10
See PROPOSAL, Page 17
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The St. Pius X boys basketball team celebrates the 2026 Region 5-4A title after posting a 79-54 win over Tucker at Southwest DeKalb High School Feb. 19. St. Pius has compiled a record of 28-0 this season.
St. Pius X wins championship By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com DECATUR, Ga. — St. Pius X beat Tucker 79-54 Feb. 19 to win the 2026 Region 5-4A tournament held at Southwest DeKalb High in Decatur. Private schools won both the boys and girls region titles. In the girls championship game, Marist defeated Southwest DeKalb in dominant fashion. Marist girls basketball boasts the No. 1 player in the country for the senior class, Kate Harpring. The War
Eagles have scored 100 or more points in three games this season. In last year’s Region 5-4A boys final, Tucker bested Southwest DeKalb. This year, the Panthers swept Tucker in the regular season but fell to the Tigers in the region semifinal Feb. 17. The back-and-forth battle ended 52-44, and Tucker advanced to the final. Tucker started the championship game on fire, pushing to win the tournament for their retiring head coach James Hartry. Senior Julian Glenwinkel and
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