AJC 2016 Photos of the Year

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AJC 2016 Photos of the Year

January 25, 2016 Roswell: Volunteers pray before serving dinner during the Roswell United Methodist Job Networking program Monday January 25, 2016. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

February 10, 2016 Atlanta - A rally attendee waves a flag before Franklin Graham's prayer rally. The rally was part of Graham's Decision America Tour 2016. Graham said he had no faith in the democratic and republic parties. TAYLOR CARPENTER / TAYLOR.CARPENTER@AJC.COM

Feb. 10, 2016 - Atlanta - Rep. Ed Setzler (left), R - Acworth, was among the legislators in the crowd. Evangelist Franklin Graham led a "prayer rally" at Liberty Plaza near the state Capitol Tuesday, a day after the New Hampshire presidential primaries. Evangelical voters could play a critical role in this year's election. The eldest son of evangelist Billy Graham, his appearance at the state Capitol coincided with a rally led by the Duluth-based Faith and Freedom Coalition. His rally also comes as several "religious liberty" bills are pending in the Statehouse. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

February 16, 2016 Atlanta: Bernie Sanders waves to the crowd as he takes the podium at his campaign rally Tuesday evening February 16, 2016 at Morehouse College. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

February 17, 2016 Atlanta - Author Trudy Nan Boyce poses for a portrait in Krog Street Tunnel. Boyce, a retired Atlanta Police Department officer, published "Out of the Blues," a mystery novel set in Atlanta. TAYLOR CARPENTER / TAYLOR.CARPENTER@AJC.COM

February 19, 2016 Riverdale: A police honor guard removes the remains of Riverdale Police Maj. Greg Barney from a hearse at Riverdale City Hall before a viewing and memorial service Friday evening 2, 19, 2016. Barney was shot and killed last week as police served a warrant at an apartment complex. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

February 19, 2016 Riverdale: Police officers await the arrival of Riverdale Police Maj. Greg Barney's family at Riverdale City Hall before a viewing and memorial service Friday evening 2, 19, 2016. Barney was shot and killed last week as police served a warrant at an apartment complex. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

February 29, 2016 Lawrenceville: Josue and Octavia Garcia exchange rings during their leap day wedding Monday afternoon February 29, 2016 in front of Gwinnett County Probate Judge Christopher Ballar. The couple, shown with Royce Garcia, 4, and Violet Garcia, 5 months, were excited to have the special date for their wedding day. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

February 29, 2016 Atlanta - U.S. Customs and Border Protection canine team officer Andrew Bateman and Regal check bags at the baggage claim area of the international terminal in Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Regal is trained to sniff out prohibited items of agriculture significance. TAYLOR CARPENTER / TAYLOR.CARPENTER@AJC.COM

February 2, 2016 DeKalb County: Olympia Thompson, who has lived at Brennon Hill for five years, walks her five boys past the remains of one of the burned out units in the complex Wednesday afternoon February 2, 2016.
Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

February 3, 2016, Atlanta: Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen takes a selfie with Gov. Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal after arriving at Whitefoord Elementary School for a Read Across America and Get Georgia Reading event Thursday morning March 3, 2016. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

MARCH 3, 2016 MACON Wilkinson County Warriors Greg Cousin (4) blocks the the shot of Hancock Central Bulldogs Phillipe Scott (33) during first half action between the Hancock Central Bulldogs and Wilkinson County Warriors in the Class A Public boys championship game at the Macon Coliseum Thursday, March 3, 2016. KENT D. JOHNSON/ kdjohnson@ajc.com

MARCH 4, 2016 MACON Holy Innocents Golden Bears Jade Dodd-Mungin (4), Holy Innocents Golden Bears Kaila Hubbard (12) and Holy Innocents Golden Bears Erika Cassell (11) celebrate their overtime win as the Holy Innocents Golden Bears play the Wesleyan Wolves in the girls Class AA championship at the Macon Coliseum Friday, March 4, 2016. Holy Innocents Golden Bears beat the Wesleyan Wolves in overtime 66-64. KENT D. JOHNSON/ kdjohnson@ajc.com

MARCH 4, 2016 MACON Wesleyan Wolves sit dejected on the bench following their overtime loss as the Holy Innocents Golden Bears play the Wesleyan Wolves in the girls Class AA championship at the Macon Coliseum Friday, March 4, 2016. Holy Innocents Golden Bears beat the Wesleyan Wolves in overtime 66-64. KENT D. JOHNSON/ kdjohnson@ajc.com

MARCH 5, 2016 MACON Westlake Lions Jerrod Thompson (12) celebrates the win over the Pebblebrook Falcons in the Class AAAAAA boys championship at the Macon Coliseum Saturday, March 5, 2016. The Westlake Lions beat the Pebblebrook Falcons, 68-58 for the championship. KENT D. JOHNSON/ kdjohnson@ajc.com

March 16, 2016 Athens - Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (84) runs a drill at UGA Pro Day. Twenty UGA players participated in Pro Day. TAYLOR CARPENTER / TAYLOR.CARPENTER@AJC.COM

March 7, 2016 Atlanta: Stephanie Plant (left) hugs Kenneth Eberhardt (seated). Plant feared that one of her relatives had perished. Mr. Eberhardt said he lost his cousin in the fire. Two women and four men were killed early Monday, Mar. 7, 2016 in a house fire in northwest Atlanta, a fire spokesman said. During a briefing just before 11 a.m., Atlanta Fire Rescue spokesman Cortez Stafford said five of the victims were found in the rear of the home and one was found in a front bedroom of the house located in the 1400 block of Andrews Street. The fire doesnât seem suspicious at this point but the investigation is ongoing, Stafford said. He did not release the identities and ages of the victims. He said the home appears to have lacked a back exit, which may have contributed to there being multiple victims. Firefighters, called to the scene of the fire just before 5 a.m., discovered the home fully engulfed in flames that quickly spread to nearby trees, Stafford said. Crews couldnât get inside the home immediately because of the extent of damage. âOnce they did get inside, they were only able to get to about 40 percent of the home just because so much of the home had burned and collapsed,â Stafford said. Crews still needed to search the front portion of the home early Monday but had been unable to because the roof collapsed in that area. âWhen weâre trying to get inside, we have to be able to make sure that weâre safe,â Stafford said. âSo we canât just rush in and try to get everybody out if the house is collapsing.â JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

March 24, 2016 Atlanta: Gov. Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal enter the House chamber so the Governor can make his traditional end-of-session speech Thursday evening March 24, 2016 during the final day of the 2016 Legislative session. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Mar. 24, 2016 - Atlanta - Sine Die in the Senate. As this years general assembly comes to a close on the 40th day of the legislative session, legislators must consider scores of bills before the midnight deadline. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

March 26, 2016 Avondale Estates - Dougie sits with other dolls before the City of Avondale Estates Annual Dog Parade at the Community Club on Lake Avondale on Saturday, March 26, 2016. Made with Nikon D750 camera, a 70-200 mm zoom lens at 116 mm, F/5, 1/320 second, ISO 1000. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

March 29, 2016 Atlanta - President Obama speaks on a panel during the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit. Obama and other panelists spoke about treating substance abuse more like a disease. TAYLOR CARPENTER / TAYLOR.CARPENTER@AJC.COM

Kent covering arrival and departure; Brant in travel pool.

April 4, 2016 - Atlanta - Martin Luther King III and his daughter, Yolanda, look back at the tomb after laying a wreath. King family members were among those laying a memorial wreath on the tomb of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, on the 48th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's assassination. This followed a ceremony awarding the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize to Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

Gary Player helps a determined Arnold Palmer to the first tee box with Jack Nicklaus looking on while the honarary starters begin the 2016 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. It would be Palmerâs final with the golf world losing one of itâs all time legends. Made with Canon EOS 1DX camera, a 500 mm lens, 1/1000 second, F/4.5, ISO 640. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

April 6, 2016 Waynesboro - First Lady Michelle Obama hugs a student after helping plant a garden at Burke County Middle School. The middle school was a stop in the First Lady's American Garden Tour, the goal of which was to highlight the impact and benefits of diverse gardens across the country. TAYLOR CARPENTER / TAYLOR.CARPENTER@AJC.COM

April 21, 2016 Atlanta: Sandy Springs Police Officer Michael DeWald gets a kiss from his K-9 partner, Rock, who was injured earlier this week. Rock is recovering from his injuries suffered from a suspect wearing brass knuckles. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

April 23, 2016 Stone Mountain: A woman who would only give her name as Miss. Black Woman holds a Confederate battle emblem flag while protesting against a white power rally at Stone Mountain Park on Saturday afternoon April 23, 2016. A white power protest and two counter protests were took place at the park. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 23, 2016 Stone Mountain: LaJuan WIlliams turns away from police while taking part in a counter protest at Stone Mountain Park on Saturday afternoon April 23, 2016. A white power protest and two counter protests were took place at the park. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 23, 2016 Stone Mountain: Joseph Andrews, one of a small group with the Rock Stone Mountain rally, waves a confederate battle flag towards a mass of counter-protesters more than 100 yards away at Stone Mountain Park on Saturday afternoon April 23, 2016 where a white power protest and two counter protests were scheduled. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

June 14, 2016 Atlanta: President Bill Clinton, Founding Chairman of the Clinton Global Initiative and President Jimmy Carter, present the closing conversation at CGI America event on Tuesday night following the panel discussion on investing in quality jobs. Clinton moderated the conversation as they spoke on various topics including current government regulations and issues, future outlooks on the 2016 presidential election and advice they would give to young business people attending CGI America.
EMILY JENKINS/ EJENKINS@AJC.COM

April 26, 2016 Atlanta, GA: Friends of Isaiah Ward listen to the eulogy of their friend. Ward, 9 was recently killed after being struck by a car while walking in his Northwest Atlanta neighborhood. . The alleged driver, Ryan Lisabeth, has been charged with DUI on heroin and has an extensive criminal record. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

April 25, 2016 : Atlanta: George Guerra (left) and Jacinto Melendrez (right) walk across the shadows cast by the concrete beams overhead on Spring Street near Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. in downtown Atlanta on Monday, Apr. 25, 2016. The men are both from Austin, Texas and are here in Atlanta for job related training this week. Metro Atlanta will see mostly sunny skies this week, Channel 2 Meteorologist Karen Minton says a slight chance of rain will remain most of the week. The metro area will experience above-average temperatures, with temps increasing to the 80s Tuesday and staying there through Friday. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

April 28, 2016 Athens - Kendra Hansey (right) cries as students gather to mourn the deaths of fellow UGA students at a memorial organized by The Field at Tate Plaza on campus on Thursday, April 28, 2016. Made with Nikon D750 camera, a 70-200 mm zoom lens at 200 mm, F/8, 1/800 second, ISO 500. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

April 28, 2016 Milton: Friends of the UGA students who died in a car crash Wednesday night grieve during a vigil at Milton High School on Thursday night April 28, 2016. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

APRIL 30, 2016 ATLANTA Crews move a retired Boeing 747-400 to the Delta Flight museum Saturday, April 30, 2016. Delta Air Lines Ship 6301 made its final journey to DeltaÛªs Atlanta world headquarters campus in preparation for the Delta Flight Museum's latest exhibit featuring the retired aircraft.
On September 9, 2015, Delta retired Ship 6301, the first Boeing 747-400 aircraft manufactured for a commercial airline, after its final flight from Honolulu to Atlanta. KENT D. JOHNSON /kdjohnson@ajc.com

May 11, 2106 Atlanta: Make shift memorial at the site Isaiah Ward was struck while walking to the store to purchase chips. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

May 9, 2016 - Dekalb County - Hurl Taylor, age 77, smiles during the conferral of his degree. Decades after graduating from Emory Law, he received a master's degree from Candler School of Theology to support his prison ministry. Monday was the final commencement for outgoing Emory University President James Wagner, who leaves the institution this summer after 13 years leading the internationally-known institution. Emory University's Class of 2016 includes more than 4,500 students representing 49 states and 76 countries. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

May 13, 2016 Athens, GA: Students filled the University of Georgia's Sanford Stadium Friday for their graduation commencement. American Idol host Ryan Seacrest delivered the commencement address and received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Seacrest grew up in Dunwoody and attended UGA briefly before pursuing a broadcasting career.
More than 5,500 graduates were eligible to participate in the ceremony. INSIDE: Senior injured in crash moved to rehab facility, B2. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

May 13, 2016 Athens, GA: Fireworks conclude the 2016 Spring Commencement at UGA Friday May 13, 2016. American Idol host Ryan Seacrest delivered the Commencement Address in addition to receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Seacrest, who grew up in Dunwoody, attended UGA briefly before pursuing a broadcasting career.
More than 5,500 graduates were eligible to participate in the ceremony. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

May 25, 2016 BROOKHAVEN DeKalb school superintendent Stephen Green gives remarks as he, members of the DeKalb school board, students and supporters of the E-Splost gather during a press conference at Cross Keys High School to celebrate the measure's passage Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The school sales tax is expected to bring in an estimated $500 million, with plans to use the money to address overcrowded schools and renovations to several outdated schools. KENT D. JOHNSON/kdjohnson@ajc.com

May 26, 2016 STONE MOUNTAIN Students and teachers wave goodbye at Woodridge Elementary School in Stone Mountain as DeKalb schools dismiss for the summer Thursday, May 26, 2016. KENT D. JOHNSON/kdjohnson@ajc.com

May 26, 2016 Kennesaw: Melvin Pender, holding the Bronze Star Medal he was awarded in 1970 after serving in Vietnam, has been inducted into 11 halls of fame including the Georgia Military Veterans' Hall of Fame. The Atlanta native is also an Olympic gold medal winner and has several world track records. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

May 30, 2016 Roswell: Jim Gibilterra, who was in town from St. Louis to visit family, said that he regrets that he was never able to serve in the military. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

July 7, 2016 Atlanta: Atlanta police detective, Vince Velazquez talked a man out of jumping from a bridge after police shut down Ted Turner Drive, Windsor Street and Whitehall streets in downtown Atlanta after 11 am on Thursday, July 7, 2016 after the man threatened to jump from the Whitehall Street bridge. Atlanta Fire Rescue was dispatched to deploy a large airbag below the individual should a jump occur. A police negotiator talked to the man on the scene asking him to come off the bridge rail which the man was straddling. Atlanta Fire Rescue Battalion Chief, David Rhodes said, ÒThere was a concern he might have a weapon, they didnÕt know, he had something in his pocket.Ó Police then employed members of their SWAT team who joined the negotiator with shields asking the man to surrender which he eventually did at Noon. There were no injuries and the incident ended peacefully. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

June 15, 2016 Atlanta: Donald Trump speaks at the Fox Theater on Wednesday afternoon at a rally in Downtown Atlanta. Trump introduced Vince Dooley to the stage to speak a few words before his speech began. Trump spoke on topics including on the recent tragedy in Orlando, Florida and what he plans to change if he is elected president of the United States.
EMILY JENKINS/ EJENKINS@AJC.COM

June 22, 2016 - Atlanta - Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter talk about their years together in his office at the Carter Center in Atlanta. They will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary July 7. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

June 23, 2016 - Atlanta - This fish eye view, stitched together from multiple photos, shows the field level is filled with steel work and cranes as tower construction and roof steel truss ground assembly continues inside the bowl. The Falcons give a media tour of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium by the Falcons, which is still under construction. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

July 20, 2016 Atlanta: A group of children in the Bright Horizons summer camp program sit beside the Fountain of Rings in Centennial Olympic Park on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Bright Horizons offers a summer camp from June to august with weekly themes and field trips for children in pre-k to 12 years old. This year Atlanta is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1996 Olympic Games. Centennial Olympic Park was home to the games in 1996, and is now open to the public for music concerts and a famous firework show on the Fourth of July. The park is surrounded by several Atlanta landmarks such as the CNN Center and the College Football Hall of Fame. EMILY JENKINS/ EJENKINS@AJC.COM

July 8, 2016 Atlanta: Shama Rashahill, 5, chants protest cheers in a megaphone while walking with his mother during the protests in Atlanta on Friday, July 8, 2016. Protesters marched from the Center for Civil and Human Rights on Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard to the CNN Center on Marietta St in response to recent shootings and civil rights issues. The rallies and march was sponsored by the NAACP and Black Lives Matter. EMILY JENKINS/ EJENKINS@AJC.COM

July 8, 2016 Atlanta: One protestor carried a camera, the other carried a gun. Thousands gathered in the streets of Atlanta Friday July 8, 216 to protest the recent police shootings that have happened around the county. The group gathered outside the National Center for Civil and Human Rights before marching to Centennial Olympic Park and surrounding streets. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

July 8, 2016 ATLANTA Demonstrators gather in a standoff with State Patrol troopers and Atlanta Police officers following a march Friday, July 8, 2016, to protest the police shootings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge on Tuesday and Philando Castile in Minneapolis Wednesday. They were trying to get onto the I 75-85 connector at the Williams Street onramp. connector. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

July 8, 2016 ATLANTA Demonstrators gather in a standoff with State Patrol troopers and Atlanta Police officers following a march Friday, July 8, 2016, to protest the police shootings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge on Tuesday and Philando Castile in Minneapolis Wednesday. They were trying to get onto the I 75-85 connector at the Williams Street onramp. connector. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

July 9, 2016 Dallas, Texas - A man with Batman costume shows his respect at the makeshift memorial to slain officers outside Dallas police headquarters in Dallas, Texas on Saturday morning, July 9, 2016. Made with Nikon D750 camera, a 70-200 mm zoom lens at 110 mm, F/9, 1/640 second, ISO 500. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

July 14, 2016 Atlanta: Officer R. Johnson pets Smokey after his retirement ceremony as he cools off in the barn at the Atlanta Mounted Patrol on Thursday, July14, 2016. The Atlanta Police Department retired Smokey after the 17-year-old horse served on force for six years. His final call of service was Thursday, July 14, 2016 at 10 am. The APD rode him into the parking lot, took his saddle off, saluted the horse, and lined up to pet him for the last time. EMILY JENKINS/ EJENKINS@AJC.COM

July 22, 2016 Atlanta: Fulton County Jail inmate Esteban Miralrio pets the dog he help train, Olympia, during a graduation ceremony for the successful completion of the Canine Cellmates program. The program pairs inmates with dogs from the local pound to train and prepare for adoption. The program aims to change the lives of both canine and human through a 10 week program designed to give each a second chance at life. The dogs live in the cell with the inmates and take part in daily training with the inmates and professional Canine Cellmates trainers. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

August 1, 2016 Atlanta Air Force One arrives at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport with President Barack Obama for a speech to the Disabled American Veterans and a fundraiser, Monday, August 1, 2016. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

August 1, 2016 Atlanta President Barack Obama boards Air Force One at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as he departs Atlanta following a speech to the Disabled American Veterans and a fundraiser, Monday, August 1, 2016. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

August 11, 2016 - Atlanta - Cobb County Police Officer Jarod Peer escorts Alisa Piquet, who was arrested for a parole violation, to the car that will transport her. He has been using a body camera for almost a month while on patrol. More than a year after body cameras became the widely embraced answer to the rupture in police-community relations, only a fraction of metro Atlanta police are wearing them. Many metro police departments confronted a multitude of issues in purchasing them, including the great costs of data storage, rapidly evolving equipment and their own budget challenges. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

August 9, 2016 DUNWOODY The State Farm tower rises along Hammond Drive in Dunwoody. State Farm is seeking $48.6 million in tax incentives not just for future Dunwoody office buildings, but for a tower that's already nearly complete. Though tax incentives are usually used as a tool to attract new development, the site's developer says State Farm needs the money to make its expansion feasible. In all, the State Farm project is expected to house about 7,500 employees on a 17-acre campus near Perimeter Mall. KENT D. JOHNSON/kdjohnson@ajc.com

August 13, 2016 Hawkinsville - Shakiethia "KeKe" Wheeler plays with her children in the Children's Center at the Pulaski State Prison in Hawkinsville on Saturday, August 13, 2016. Georgia has 185,000 children with parents in jail, according to a recent study. Made with Nikon D750 camera, a 17-35 mm zoom lens at 35 mm, F/4, 1/800 second, ISO 5000. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

A lightning storm moves through Atlanta during a Braves MLB baseball game against the Nationals at Turner Field. The skyline of Atlanta will change once the Braves move to Cobb County leaving the âGoldâ dome and the Olympic rings and torch behind. Made with a Canon EOS 1DX Mark II camera, a 70-200 mm zoom lens at 120 mm, 1/50 second, F/20, ISO 640. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com

September 2, 2016 St. Simons Island, GA - Katie Petty (left), 18, and her sister India Petty, 19, of Brunswick, take a picture near St. Simons Island Pier on Friday, September 2, 2016. Even though the storm called Hermine was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, few people ventured outside in the sustained 50-mph winds. Made with Nikon D750 camera, a 17-35 mm zoom lens at 22 mm, F/5, 1/2500 second, ISO 500. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Coaching his first game as Georgia head coach, Kirby Smart gets some air on the sidelines during a second half come back to beat North Carolina 33-24 for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game victory in Atlanta. Made with Canon EOS 1DX Mark II camera, a 600 mm lens, 1/1300 second, F/4, ISO 8000. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com

September 8, 2016 - Atlanta - Cortney Gunter, a probation and parole officer with the Department of Juvenile Justice, shakes hands with Gov. Nathan Deal. After the announcement, Gov. Nathan Deal shook hands and thanked every law enforcement office present. Surrounded by law enforcement officers, Gov. Nathan Deal proposed Thursday a 20 percent pay hike for state law enforcement officers and an overhaul of police training to include more courses on use of force and community policing after a summer of violence and unrest in the nation's streets. House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle were also on hand to support the proposal at a Capitol announcement that included hundreds of police officers. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

December 11, 2016, AMERICUS: Americus police officers salute their fellow fallen police officer Nicholas Ryan Smarr while bagpipes lead his honor guard into his funeral service at the Georgia Southwestern State University Storm Dome on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, in Americas. Officer Smarr and Georgia Southwestern State University campus police officer Jody Smith were killed responding to a domestic dispute. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

September 7, 2016 Carrollton - Authorities investigate at the scene where 3 people killed after two planes collided at West Georgia Airport onTuesday, September 7, 2016. Made with Nikon D750 camera, a 200-400 mm zoom lens at 400 mm, F/11, 1/1000 second, ISO 640. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

September 15, 2016 Dawsonville,GA: VIP guests were given a guided tour of the new zip line course at Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville Thursday September 15, 2016 as part of the grand opening. The course is a canopy to canopy experience with 11 zip lines. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Donald Trump surrogate and onetime Georgia lawmaker Newt Gingrich rears back in laughter during an interview before hosting a town hall at Kennesaw State University in support of Trump. Made with Canon EOS 1DX Mark II camera, a 24-70 mm zoom lens at 70 mm, 1/1000 second, F/4, ISO 4000. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com

September 17, 2016 Columbia, MO: Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie tumbles in the end zone and holds onto the game winning touchdown pass in front of Missouri Tigers defensive back Aarion Penton late in the 4th quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, MO. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

September 16, 2016 - Atlanta - Newly sworn in citizens cheer and wave flags after taking their oath of citizenship. The "New Americans Project, "a voter registration effort organized by the League of Women Voters of Georgia, over the past three years has managed to register more than 15,000 newly minted citizens. On Friday, volunteers were staffing a table at Turner Field during a naturalization ceremony for 755 people -- with hopes that many of them stop by and sign up to become first-time voters in their adopted country. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

SECONDARY PHOTO - September 29, 2016 Atlanta: Raging flames destroyed much of a DeKalb County warehouse and caused the roof to collapse in the 2400 block of Lithonia Industrial Boulevard DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department officials said. Initial reports indicate no one was in the warehouse at the time of the fire, which started just before 6 a.m. and burned everything from paint to tires to vehicles. ÒThe roof collapsed in stages,Ó Jackson said. ÒFirst one far end collapsed, and then the middle and then the end.Ó At one point, crews used three aerial ladders and at least 10 trucks to saturate the building with thousands of gallons of water. Investigators said while the burning chemicals arenÕt believed to be toxic to the surrounding area, they are worried for the safety of firefighters who will need to enter the building. Units were battling the blaze from Òa defensive position,Ó meaning crews were outside the building occupied by theÊNational Equipment Development Company Inc. NEDCO, a manufacturing business that helps fold textiles and apparel, is less than 1,000 feet from one of the fire departmentÕs station. ÒOur firefighters, of course knowing the area, literally looked out the back door and saw this business on fire,Ó Jackson said. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

October 1, 2016 Athens: Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) leaps in front of Georgia Bulldogs safety Dominick Sanders for the game winning touchdown as time expires during the 4th quarter in Athens Saturday October 1, 2016. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Hank Aaron and Braves Chairman & CEO Terry McGuirk remove home plate at the conclusion of the final game at Turner Field, transfering it to the new stadium from Atlanta to Cobb County. Made with a Canon EOS 1DX camera, a 16-35mm zoom lens at 25 mm, 1/800 second, F/5.6, ISO 1250. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com

Residents Michael & Tori Munton make their way down a flooded street in historic Saint Marys during the storm surge from Hurricane Matthew. Made with Canon EOS 1DX Mark II camera, a 16-35mm zoom lens at 16 mm, 1/1000 second, F/5.6, ISO 5000. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com

October 2, 2016 Atlanta - The Braves closed down Turner Field with one final giant tomahawk chop and confetti on Sunday, October 2, 2016. Made with GoPro HERO3+ Black edition. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

October 19, 2016 - Atlanta - Jordan Mills, from Lithonia, waits for the job fair to open. More than 500 jobs were open at the Airport Community Job Fair on Wednesday. Hundreds of applicants were in line before the 10 am opening. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

SECONDARY PHOTO - October 28, 2016 East Point: Fire Investigators are working to find the cause of an apartment fire that displaced 24- people, including 19 adults and 5-children on Friday, Oct. 28, 2016 at the Parkside at Camp Creek Apartments at 4039 Carriage House Court in East Point. Fire crews arrived at 4:36 am at the three story structure where heavy smoke was coming from a ground floor apartment according to City of East Point Fire Department PIO, Renita Shelton. Evacuations were already underway, firefighters conducted a primary and secondary search of the building, which found no occupants inside. The fire was knocked down at 5:03 A.M. and 3 of the 7 units were damaged by fire. Mutual aid was provided by City of Atlanta Fire Rescue, and The City of College Park Fire Department and Fulton County Fire. No one was injured. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

November 8, 2016 Atlanta: Aaron Coe had a disgruntled expression on his face as he voted on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016 at Henry W. Grady High School at 929 Charles Allen Dr NE in Atlanta. ÒIÕm pleased to say all the polls opened on time and on schedule," Fulton elections director Richard Barron told The AJC. "WeÕre expecting 70 percent turnout."ÊÊThe previous early voting record in 2012 was 152,562. When absentee ballots come in, Barron said he expects the early vote will be about 284,000.ÊÊÒItÕs a major accomplishment for us," he said. "Early voting worked in our favor. WeÕre pleased that our residents listened.ÊÊOur hope is that todayÕs voters also will be patient if they have a wait.Ó AÊrecord 2.38 million peopleÊcast their ballots during the stateÕs early voting period, which ended Friday. Local officials enacted safety plans to make sure all went smoothly Tuesday. Deputies were assigned to busier polling sites in Cobb County, and deputies drove by polling spots in Gwinnett County, Channel 2 Action News reported. Fulton County police didnÕt assign special patrols, but police said officers monitored polls. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

October 29 Jacksonville, FL :Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie is consoled by fellow receiver Terry Godwin during the final minutes of the Bulldogs 24-10 loss to the Florida Gators at EverBank Field in Jacksonville Saturday October 29, 2016. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

November 11, 2016 - Atlanta - Robert McCubbins, an Army Veteran and president of the Korean War Veterans Association, General Raymond G. Davis Chapter, receives applause as Korean War Veteran's were recognized. Today's Veterans Day ceremony at the Atlanta History Center featured Bronze Star winner and journalist/author Joe Galloway, the 116th Army band, a bagpiper, and the Georgia Society of the American Revolution presenting the colors. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

November 11, 2016, Gibson - Charles Usry rotates a tire at Usry Auto Parts in Gibson, Georgia, on Friday, November 11, 2016. 90 percent of Glascock county residents voted for president elect Donald Trump. (DAVID BARNES / DAVID.BARNES@AJC.COM)

October 18, 2016 Atlanta: A teen was ejected from a stolen SUV early Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016 after he lost control of the vehicle and landed on a home in southwest Atlanta, police said. The driver, who was in stable condition at an area hospital, was driving southbound on Maxwell Drive at a high rate of speed when the teen lost control of the SUV, Atlanta police Sgt. Dorian Graham said. According to police, the vehicle went airborne, tearing down tree limbs, mailboxes and power lines. Graham had never seen anything like it. ÒItÕs weird,Ó he said. Though the SUV clipped or damaged multiple homes before coming to rest on top of a residence in the 2400 block of Maxwell Drive, the teen driver was the only person injured. Johnathan Williams lives in one of the damaged homes. About 6:45 a.m., he was sitting in his living room. He was about to take his 10-year-old daughter to school. ÒSomething told me to wait for a second,Ó Williams said. ÒAnd I waited, and thatÕs when I heard everything, and I could see the flashing from where he hit the power line. The transformer exploded.Ó He said he ran to see if the driver was OK and saw the teen laying on the ground unconscious.

The supermoon hangs in the sky over a fire service look out tower shrouded in a smokey haze from wildfires in northern Georgia as birds come in to land on the roof near Madison during a code red smog alert day due to the wildfires. Made with Canon EOS 1DX Mark II camera, a 300 mm lens, 1/1300 second, F/5.6, ISO 640. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Eric and Vebbra Willey watch from their front porch as the Rock Mountain Fire approaches closer to their home in Tate City. Residents are under a pre-evacuation order with firefighters working to stop the fire short of homes. Made with Canon EOS 1DX camera, a 70-200 mm zoom lens at 135 mm, 1/320 second, F/32, ISO 200. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

November 22, 2016 - Chattanooga - Michelle Hutto, who said her son was a friend of one of the victims and one of the injured, placed flowers at Woodmore Elementary School. Two teddy bears were placed at the base of the school flag which stood at half mast. At least five children died days before Thanksgiving in a horrific crash in Chattanooga. Bus driver Johnthony Walker, 24, has been charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and reckless driving, the Chattanooga Police Department said. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

At first glance the weathervane on the top of a barn appears to be a bear fleeing the Rock Mountain Fire as it burns across the top of ridge pole above Bettyâs Creek Road where home owners are under a pre-evacuation order just north of Clayton. Thousands of acres have been burned by wildfires in the Georgia mountains from extreme drought conditions. Made with a Canon EOS 1DX Mark II camera, a 300 mm lens, 32 second, F/32, ISO 5000, and a tripod. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

November 16, 2016 Atlanta: Atlanta Fire Rescue Sgt. Justin Hodges (left) and Captain Anthony Carroll salute from Tower 11 as an ambulance carrying firefighter Frank Martinez and escort apparatus Squad 4 passed under the 17th Street bridge Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. The Georgia State Patrol and Atlanta police brought firefighter Martinez from Piedmont Newnan Hospital, 745 Poplar Road, Newnan, to his home in Forsyth County. Martinez is 45 and was a six-year member of the Departmentâs Squad 4, the technical rescue unit based at Fire Station 4 on Edgewood Avenue. He has battled cancer for several years and will be receiving hospice care at his home. Frankâs last wish was to see the new Squad 4 apparatus, which was put into service just a few weeks ago. Squad 4 led the escort home. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

November 23, 2016, Atlanta - College Park city councilman Ambrose Clay poses for a portrait with the equipment he uses to measure aircraft noise in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday, November 23, 2016. Councilman Clay pushed for an airport noise referendum, that recently passed, calling for Congress to direct the FAA to develop a new noise exposure measure. The referenda also calls for federal funding for new noise insulation to help affected residences. (DAVID BARNES / DAVID.BARNES@AJC.COM)

November 26, 2016 Athens - Georgia Tech running back Qua Searcy (1) dives into the endzone for the game winning touchdown at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, November 26, 2016. Georgia Tech won 28-27 over the Georgia. Made with Nikon D4 camera, a 70-200 mm zoom lens at 165 mm, F/5.6, 1/1600 second, ISO 1250. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

November 25, 2016 - Alpharetta - Debbie McGaw watches as her son, Noah, 2, reluctantly visits with Santa. Parents and their children visit Santa at North Point Mall in Alpharetta. Denise Conroy, a former TV executive, is CEO of Iconic Group, which supplies Santa, photos and the rest of that experience to malls across the nation. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

December 1, 2016 - Atlanta - Hopie Acosta, a flight attendant on the flight, holds a photo of her and her family after they arrived in Miami in 1962 after leaving Cuba. Delta launches its first scheduled airline flights to Cuba on Dec. 1, a key milestone in the U.S. opening to Cuba. The launch of the Atlanta-Havana route will open up the market for local travel to Cuba. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

December 1, 2016 ATLANTA DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis and his wife, Philippa, head to a press conference where he spoke Thursday for the first time since he was convicted a year and a half ago following a second trial in DeKalb County. The Georgia Supreme Court threw out Ellis' guilty verdicts on Wednesday. KENT D. JOHNSON/kdjohnson@ajc.com

December 5, 2016 - Marietta - Justin Ross Harris is sentenced to life in prison for killing his 22-month-old son Cooper. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

December 9, 2016 - Atlanta, Ga: ELCA team members (left) and Fellowship team members participate in the coin toss before their Class A private state championship game Friday at the Georgia Dome December 9, 2016, in Atlanta, Ga. This is the first of eight state championship games being played at the Georgia Dome over the next two days. PHOTO / JASON GETZ

Cherry Glover, who has a developmental disability, lays her head on her daughter, Asia Glover, 7, in hopes of getting her to smile at their home as they pose for a portrait in Atlanta, Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. Branden Camp/Special

December 14, 2016, AMERICUS: A row of university police, campus security, and Americus police officers bow in prayer during the funeral service of fellow Georgia Southwestern State University campus police officer Jody Smith at the university on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, in Americus. Officer Smith and Americus police officer Nicholas Ryan Smarr, best friends, were killed responding to a domestic dispute. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

December 22, 2016 Atlanta - Claud ÛÏTexÛ? McIver react as he stands with his attorney Cal Leipold (left) before Chief Magistrate Judge Cassandra Kirk during McIver's first appearance at the Fulton County jail on Thursday, December 22, 2016. Atlanta lawyer Claud ÛÏTexÛ? McIver, who turned himself in at the Fulton County jail Wednesday night to face charges in the death of his wife, Diane, had his first appearance in court this morning. Atlanta police have charged McIver with involuntary manslaughter, a felony, and reckless conduct, a misdemeanor, for shooting his wife in the back as the two rode in their SUV near Piedmont Park late on the night of Sept. 25. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

July 1, 2016 Atlanta: Hours after a man with an extensive criminal history barricaded himself inside a Smyrna apartment complex and prompted a standoff early Friday, July 1, 2016 police took the man into custody. About 3 a.m., officers received a phone call about a domestic dispute at the Brighton Way Apartment Homes on Parkway Avenue, Smyrna police spokesman Louis Defense said. Police were familiar with the address. Officers have gone there Òon numerous occasions,Ó Defense said. When they got to the scene Friday, they found a woman with multiple injuries and tried to make contact with a man in the apartment, Defense said. ÒHe told them to go away and barricaded himself inside of the apartment,Ó Defense said. ÒOur hostage negotiators arrived on the scene.Ó They tried to negotiate with him for several hours to no avail. ÒWe introduced a tactical element and he came out peacefully,Ó Defense said. The man, whose name was not released, was taken to the Smyrna City Jail on unspecified charges. The womanÕs condition was not known. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

SECONDARY PHOTO - December 23, 2016 Atlanta: Nicolas Martinez-9 carries his father's helmet from the funeral Mass as hundreds of firefighters from Atlanta Fire Rescue and other metro jurisdictions gathered Friday, Dec. 23, 2016 to pay one final tribute to a former colleague and friend. Funeral services were held at Cathedral of Christ the King in Buckhead for Frank Martinez,Êwho died early Tuesday of cancer at age 45.Ê ÒFrank said,ÊÔIÕm just a dude who got cancer,ÕÓ Capt. Greg Wise, a 26-year Atlanta veteran, said at the services. ÒThatÕs not true. HeÕs one awesome dude. Today will show you how awesome he was. ÒEveryone that came into contact with him loved him.Ó In November, a convoy carried Martinez, a six-year veteran of the department, from a Newnan cancer treatment center to his home in Forsyth County, where he received hospice care until he died. Martinez worked with the departmentÕs Squad 4, which is the technical rescue unit based on Edgewood Avenue. ÒWe came out today as a celebration of life for Frank,Ó Assistant Chief Chris Wessels said.ÊÒIt was a beautiful setting and a beautiful service to honor his legacy. ÒFrank had a way of making you feel good about yourself.ÓÊ Capt. Chip Newell from Squad 4 remembered Martinez as aÊÒfamily man. He worked two jobs to be able to provide for his wife and two boys.Ó Newell said Martinez made everyone, either civilians or other firefighters, feel at home in the firehouse. ÒHe had the passion and he had the drive,Ó Newell said.ÊÒHe was the kind of guy who youÕd want to come get you if you were trapped in a fire.Ó JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

December 15, 2016 Atlanta: Demolition workers tear apart the facade of the Kroger on Ponce de Leon Avenue on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The grocery store known as "Murder Kroger" is being torn down to make way for 725 Ponce, a mixed-use redevelopment near the eastside Beltline trail BeltLine Kroger, which was built in 1986, closed on Oct. 28. The new project which is expected to open in early 2019, will include a 60,000-square-foot Kroger, 360,000 square feet of loft office space and ground-level retail. Below it all, commuters will find more than 900 parking spaces. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

December 18, 2016, ATLANTA: Falcons running back Devonta Freeman spikes the ball scoring his second of three touchdowns for a 28-7 lead over the 49ers during the second quarter in an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

December 11, 2016, AMERICUS: Thomas Terrel Tuetienwhistle, with the Patriot Guard Riders, is one of thousands showing support for Americus police officer Nicholas Ryan Smarr during his funeral service and transfer to Oak Grove Cemetery on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, in Americas. Officer Smarr and Georgia Southwestern State University campus police officer Jody Smith were killed responding to a domestic dispute. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

December 20, 2016 Atlanta: Atlanta firefighter, Andrew Morgan of Truck 1 gives oxygen to a dog rescued from a burning house after Atlanta firefighters rescued a man and the dog from the house early Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 in northwest Atlanta. Firefighters went to the home in the 2800 block of Baker Ridge Drive and tried to enter through the front door, Atlanta fire Capt. Kelen Evans told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A lieutenant went to the back of the home and found the man near a door. "She alerted us," Evans said. "We got the door open and pulled him out." Emergency workers administered CPR. The man's condition was not known. "But he was breathing when we brought him out," Evans said. "That's about all I can tell you." The blaze damaged a front room, Atlanta fire battalion Chief Darrel Mason said. "We have fire investigators on the scene now, so we can't give any indication of what might have caused the issue," Mason said. No other details were released. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

December 23, 2016 Atlanta: The honor guard carries the remains of Frank Martinez into the Cathedral as hundreds of firefighters from Atlanta Fire Rescue and other metro jurisdictions gathered Friday, Dec. 23, 2016 to pay one final tribute to a former colleague and friend. Funeral services were held at Cathedral of Christ the King in Buckhead for Frank Martinez,Êwho died early Tuesday of cancer at age 45.Ê ÒFrank said,ÊÔIÕm just a dude who got cancer,ÕÓ Capt. Greg Wise, a 26-year Atlanta veteran, said at the services. ÒThatÕs not true. HeÕs one awesome dude. Today will show you how awesome he was. ÒEveryone that came into contact with him loved him.Ó In November, a convoy carried Martinez, a six-year veteran of the department, from a Newnan cancer treatment center to his home in Forsyth County, where he received hospice care until he died. Martinez worked with the departmentÕs Squad 4, which is the technical rescue unit based on Edgewood Avenue. ÒWe came out today as a celebration of life for Frank,Ó Assistant Chief Chris Wessels said.ÊÒIt was a beautiful setting and a beautiful service to honor his legacy. ÒFrank had a way of making you feel good about yourself.ÓÊ Capt. Chip Newell from Squad 4 remembered Martinez as aÊÒfamily man. He worked two jobs to be able to provide for his wife and two boys.Ó Newell said Martinez made everyone, either civilians or other firefighters, feel at home in the firehouse. ÒHe had the passion and he had the drive,Ó Newell said.ÊÒHe was the kind of guy who youÕd want to come get you if you were trapped in a fire.Ó JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

December 27, 2016, Atlanta: Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and Washington head football coach Chris Petersen greet Ambassador Andrew Young (seated left) and Dr. C.T. Vivian at the conclusion of a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl tour of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site to hear first-hand accounts from Civil Rights leaders at the Historic Ebenezer First Baptist Church on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, in Atlanta. For more about the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, turn to Sports, Page C1. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

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January 25, 2016 Roswell: Volunteers pray before serving dinner during the Roswell United Methodist Job Networking program Monday January 25, 2016. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

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