The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 10.19.99]
"The Lost Children of Rockdale County"
Residents hope for balanced treatment

By Leon Stafford
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

The national spotlight is returning to Rockdale County tonight, but residents
aren't sure they're ready for another close-up.

The "Frontline" documentary, "The Lost Children of Rockdale County," is the
buzz of the community, with residents hoping that they will be treated fairly
and that the program will be balanced to include a mention of those children
who have managed to stay out of trouble.

"I'm sure it's not going to do our community's image a whole lot of good,"
said Pat Wilson, a counselor at Rockdale County High School. "But if it is
done in a way that the focus is to impress the need for kids not to have so
much unfocused time ... maybe it will be good."

The documentary marks the second time in the past year that Rockdale County
has been under the national microscope. The first occasion came five months
ago when Anthony "T.J." Solomon shot six of his Heritage High School
classmates as they waited in the commons area for school to begin May 20.

In the documentary, Solomon - then unknown to the public - is seen walking
among a procession of students down one of the school's hallways.

The Rockdale County school system sent a letter home to parents informing
them of the program and of the community forum, spokeswoman Susan Paul Smith
said.

"Based on the scope of this program, we just wanted parents to be aware and
to support the community forum," Smith said.

Julie Sosebee, a nurse manager at the Rockdale County Health Department, said
she hopes the "Frontline" program will help parents realize that what they
see and hear on the program can happen to their children.

She said the activities that led to the outbreak in Rockdale are happening
all over the country. If it were not for the outbreak, the activities would
have continued unabated without anyone's knowledge.

"At the time, people believed these kids belonged to someone else," Sosebee,
said. "They didn't. Any child today is at risk, and parents have to open up
the lines of communication at home."