Author: On Common Ground News

The Stonecrest City Council has hired a firm to temporarily handle city personnel and another company to help secure a site for City Hall as the new municipality takes shape. Mayor Jason Lary said the city should realize some revenues at the end of August that will come from franchise fees for various entities thanks to pre-work that was done by the Stonecrest City Alliance Vice Chair Plez Joyner. Lary said property tax revenues are expected for the first quarter in 2018. “In the interim, I am interviewing organizations that can handle Tax Anticipation Notes (TAN),” said Lary. Lary said…

Fairfield Baptist Church will celebrate its 132 anniversary on invites the public to attend commemorative services in honor of the church’s 132nd anniversary. The community is invited to help celebrate the milestone on Sunday, May 21, 7:30 and 10:45 a.m. worship services, which will be held at 6133 Redan Road, Lithonia. Fairfield Baptist Church was founded in 1885 and is a pillar of the Redan community. This year’s celebration, entitled “ Thanking God for the Past and Growing Stronger in the Future,” will be led by the church’s pastor, the Rev. Micheal Benton. The celebration will continue Monday through Wednesday,…

“Crime Watch Daily” with host Chris Hansen, a nationally-syndicated crime show, will take a behind-the-scenes- look at DeKalb County Police Departments Vice Unit as the unit executes prostitution stings. Hansen went along with the Vice Unit as it arrested pimps, johns and prostitutes during a two-day undercover operation. The segment airing Wednesday, May 17, on Peachtree TV, 10 a.m., shines a spotlight on the sex trafficking problem in the U.S.

The Atlanta Hawks Foundation will unveil state-of-the-art public basketball courts at DeKalb County’s N.H. Scott Recreation Center on Saturday, May 20, 11 a.m., marking the foundation’s second DeKalb location and the ninth Metropolitan Atlanta site to receive Hawks-themed courts since 2015. The Hawks will celebrate the opening of the courts with a youth basketball showcase featuring participants from the DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs. “With this new court, we’re thrilled to partner with DeKalb County in building another sustainable civic asset for Atlanta’s east side,” said David Lee, Executive Director, Atlanta Hawks Foundation and EVP, Hawks…

The DeKalb County Police Chief James W. Conroy and CEO Michael Thurmond honored the county’s fallen officers during a memorial service, which was held on May 10 at the DeKalb Historic Courthouse in downtown Decatur. The memorial service recognized May as the month law enforcement agencies across the country honored those who have died in the line of duty. The service brought together surviving family members, police officers elected officials and community groups. DeKalb honored officers from Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, DeKalb County Marshal’s Office and MARTA Police.

The I-85 corridor, closed since the bridge collapsed as a result of a March 30 fire, will reopen on May 15, officials announced. Gov. Nathan Deal, along with Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Commissioner Russell McMurry and State Transportation Board Chairman Robert L. Brown Jr., made the announcement on May 9. The northbound and southbound lanes of the I-85 bridge over Piedmont Road in metro Atlanta are projected to open to traffic by morning rush-hour on May 15. The new opening date is nearly two weeks earlier than GDOT’s most recent commitment of Memorial Day weekend, and five weeks ahead…

Rockdale County’s Board of Commissioners would grow from three to five seats and four new commission districts would be created under a legislative bill that would change the structure that Rockdale has had for 40 years. Some think Rockdale has outgrown its three-person commission, established in 1977, while others say it’s working just fine. The subject is one that will be discussed at a community meeting the Citizens Progressive Club is hosting on May 15, 7 p.m., at Bald Rock Baptist Church, 2284 Old Covington Road, Conyers. “It’s going to be a listening sessions for our state legislators to get…

Looking for a job in the construction field? WorkSource DeKalb and Archer Western are hosting a hiring event for the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facilities expansion in DeKalb County. The hiring event will be held on Thursday, May 18, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., at 4572 Memorial Drive, Decatur. Archer Western, a recognized expert in the building, civil, transportation and water sectors, is looking to hire several tradesmen for full-time, permanent employment for the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facilities Expansion. Trades needed: Carpenter Foremen Pipe Fitters Carpenters Pipe Layers Carpenter Helpers Concrete Finishers Equipment Operators General Laborers Subcontractor Needs:…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three suspects in the murder of a woman during a reported cellphone sale transaction in a Lithonia community on May 5. DeKalb Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit Deputies arrested Jamel M. Harris, 42, of Stone Mountain; Jakerius A. Henry, 17, Lithonia; and a juvenile on May 8.  They are each charged with Murder, Aggravated Assault and Criminal Attempt. Warrants had been issued for Harris on May 7.  All three suspects were apprehended on May 8 when they were located inside a burned out home on Old Wellborn Trace in Lithonia.  Sheriff’s K9 Viper led deputies…

Rockdale County has received a $100,000 federal grant from the Recreation Trails Program to build additional miles of shared use trails for mountain biking, hiking and walking. The trail connects the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Rockdale to the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area in the city of Stonecrest, located in southeast DeKalb County. The trail extends for more than 30 miles, passing many landmarks and picturesque beauty. Rockdale Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt said the project is the perfect pathway to bridging the community and tourists with beautiful greenspace. “I’m very excited about this new opportunity to…