Rudolf Bradford has received yet another postponement of his sentencing on six guilty charges. He was found guilty of running an illegal slaughterhouse on Dec. 14, 2022. His sentencing has been delayed three times. Assistant Solicitor-General Karen Scott sent the following note:
Over the State’s objection, the court has reset the State v. Rudolph Bradford to Monday, April 3rd, 2023, at 8:50 am at the DeKalb County Courthouse located at 556 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, Georgia 30030, Courtroom B on the 3rd floor.
On Friday, March 17, 2023 the defense attorney reached out to the Court via e-mail to request a continuance based on a personal emergency. The Court did not set a hearing on the matter, but Judge Purdom addressed that he had received the request during an unrelated court session this morning.
The State expressed its objection, including mentioning the planned attendance of members of the public, information that the Defendant continues to operate his business, and that this matter has already been reset twice. Over the State’s objection, the Judge indicated that given the circumstances of the Defendant’s request, he was still going to reset it. As always, I will continue to keep you updated on this matter.
The sentencing hearing for Rudolph Bradford will be held March 21, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. This will be an in-person hearing held in Courtroom 8 at the Courthouse Complex located at 3630 Camp Circle. You are welcome to attend.
On Dec. 14, 2022, in state court, a jury of six found Rudolph Bradford guilty of illegally slaughtering animals in his backyard. His sentencing has been delayed twice.
Rudolph Bradford continues to slaughter animals at 1676 Rice Road, Lithonia, Ga. – more than 200 since he was found guilty in December. Bradford slaughtered 53 animals in his backyard in February 2023, consisting of 7 cattle, 1 pig, 32 goats, and 13 sheep. The Georgia Department of Agriculture records show that he has slaughtered 5,287 cows, pigs, goats, and sheep since the cease-and-desist order was issued March 19, 2019.
April 1, 9 a.m., Garden Care at Hairston Park
Calling all volunteers. The Friends of Hairston Park are meeting at 9 a.m. April 1 to spruce up the Serenity Garden area. The address is 889 S. Hairston Road, Stone Mountain.
We’ll also plant more native plants if the weather looks good. Come see the progress we’ve made! Most of the plants we put in the ground last fall are putting out spring leaves and buds.
New Zoning Signs
Beginning this month, we have much more readable public hearing signs in the County. They are no longer printed by hand, and they are larger. Thank you, Planning Department.
New Trees on N. Hairston
You may have seen some more tree planting on the median, this time on N. Hairston Road near Memorial. This effort is part of a partnership with TreesAtlanta and DeKalb County. We are grateful for the effort to beautify this important corridor.
This fall, look for planting opportunities on S. Hairston near Covington Road. We plan to plant 50 trees to beautify a strip near Kings Ridge sometime this fall.
Get a Tree for Your Front Yard! Deadline March 31
Help increase the urban tree canopy! You can have a hardy overstory tree planted in your front yard for a very low cost through TreesAtlanta. Go to this link to put in an order: https://www.treesatlanta.org/yardtree/
The deadline is March 31, 2023, so act now!
Commissioner Cochran-Johnson’s battle against dollar stores
is part of a feature in The New York Times. If you missed it, click this link:
A developer is considering putting an automatic tunnel car wash near S. Hairston and Redan Road, but the Greater Hidden Hills Overlay Code prohibits such a business. He asked the Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corp. (GHHCDC) to support a special land use exception so that the car wash can be built.
You are invited to give your opinions on the matter at the next GHHCDC meeting: Feb. 18, 2023, 10 a.m., on Zoom. If you cannot make the meeting but want to express an opinion, please write to GHHCDC@gmail.com
The reason our community put in business restrictions was to prevent being inundated with the same type of businesses. The idea was to generate a diverse array of businesses that offer services and goods this neighborhood needs and wants.
Danny Glusman, the car wash representative, says that the construction would cost about $3.5 million, and the site would by managed by an experienced car wash chain. Here is a prototype image that Foamworks sent:
We hope you can attend the meeting. Due to previous commitment, this email must go out early. If you misplace the link, go to www.GreaterHiddenHillsCDC.org to see it on the website.
Sentencing for Illegal Slaughterhouse Set for Feb 17, 9 a.m.
On Dec. 14 in state court, a jury of six found Rudolph Bradford guilty of illegally slaughtering animals in his backyard. He was to be sentenced Jan. 13, 2023, but the judicial tower of the DeKalb County Courthouse is closed for repairs, according to Assistant Solicitor-General Karen Scott. The new sentencing date is Feb. 17, 2023, 9 a.m.
Bradford was found guilty on the first three charges dealing with illegal slaughtering of animals on residential property. The other two guilty verdicts dealt with inappropriate parking and storage of machinery.
Bradford was found not guilty of the four counts dealing with his license and four other nuisance charges.
Ms. Scott asked that Judge Purdom consider fining him $1,000 on each count and requiring a 600-day sentence (300 days would be suspended if he closed the abattoir within 90 days of sentencing.)
Thank you for reading.
We always appreciate your support. Membership is $25 for individuals and $125 for neighborhood associations and businesses.
You are invited to join the Friends of Hairston Park as we celebrate the completion of our Mindfulness Project!
Jan. 18, 10 a.m. 889 S. Hairston Rd., Stone Mountain
In 2021, Park Pride awarded the Friends of Hairston Park a $50,000 Community Building Grant through the generous donation of The Home Depot. This grant allowed our Friends group to create a Serenity Garden with meandering trails leading to 3 native garden bed areas with benches, 5 meditative signs, trash receptacles along the path, and 3 picnic tables that will serve as an overflow from our beautiful pavilion (provided through park bond funds allotted by Commissioners Bradshaw). Park Pride’s grant also allowed us to provide 3 pergola swings for park visitors to enjoy the serene view of the lake or watch the turtles sunbathing on a log, 2 directional signs, and 2 educational interpretive signs so visitors can learn about trees and wildlife in our community park.
In addition to the grant, many volunteers made this project possible. We thank the Friends of Hairston Park for clearing the native garden area and planting the native plants.
Sentencing for Illegal Slaughterhouse Moved to Feb 17, 9 a.m.
On Dec. 14 in state court, a jury of six found Rudolph Bradford guilty of illegally slaughtering animals in his backyard. He was to be sentenced Jan. 13, 2023, but the judicial tower of the DeKalb County Courthouse is closed for repairs, according to Assistant Solicitor-General Karen Scott. The new sentencing date is Feb. 17, 2023, 9 a.m.
Bradford was found guilty on the first three charges dealing with illegal slaughtering of animals on residential property. The other two guilty verdicts dealt with inappropriate parking and storage of machinery.
Bradford was found not guilty of the four counts dealing with his license and four other nuisance charges.
Ms. Scott asked that Judge Purdom consider fining him $1,000 on each count and requiring a 600-day sentence (300 days would be suspended if he closed the abattoir within 90 days of sentencing.)
Welcome to GHHCDC Meetings
The next meeting is Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m., on Zoom. We’ll provide the link in an upcoming newsletter and on our website.
Thank you for reading. We always appreciate your support.
Membership is $25 for individuals and $125 for neighborhood associations and businesses.
To mark the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., let us all be inspired anew by his service.
“Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”
Greater Hidden Hills 