Author: On Common Ground News

FEATURED EVENT Decatur “Concerts on the Square” returns Pack a picnic, spread out a blanket and enjoy an evening of music on Saturday, May 6, 7 – 9 p.m., on the on the square in downtown Decatur. The free show will feature Modern Top 40 group, “Banded,” an upbeat trio from Athens playing popular songs from the 90’s up to now. For more information about this event and other concerts in Decatur, visit www.decaturdba.com.   ATLANTA Candler Park outdoor movie series starts May 6 Families are invited to enjoy a free outdoor movie on Saturday, May 6, at Candler…

Rainbow Park Baptist Church in Decatur is hosting an awards breakfast for its GED participants on Thursday, May 4, 9:30 a.m., in the fellowship hall at 29141 Columbia Drive, Decatur. The special guest speaker for the program will be Diane Adoma, the newly-elected District 5 council member for the City of Stonecrest. Dr. Adoma will share her riveting success story of how she went from a GED to a PhD. This year’s participants will be recognized for their dedication and commitment to the program. Forty students are enrolled in the program, said Sandy Ferguson, director. Rainbow Park, under the leadership…

The South DeKalb Police Precinct Community Outreach will present the “Relatives as Caregivers” forum at its bi-monthly (1st and 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.) community meeting on May 2, 6:30 p.m., in the South Precinct, 2842 H. F. Shepherd Drive, Decatur. The meeting will feature a DeKalb County kinship navigator, who will share information about the many resources that are available to grandparents and others who have custody of grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other family members. For more information, contact Marjorie Clay (marjorieclay@bellsouth.net).

Rockdale County Clerk of Courts Ruth A. Wilson, in collaboration with the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority, will offer free Notary Public training for individuals who are already notaries and those interested in becoming a notary. The training will address basic notary procedures and legal guidelines for fulfilling the duties of a Notary Public in the State of Georgia. The training will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 1 to 2:30 p.m., at the JP Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor St., Conyers. This special afternoon session is being offered to accommodate those who are unable to attend during evening…

State Rep. Pam Dickerson and Sen. Tonya Anderson will host a post-legislative town hall on the 2017 Legislative session on Thursday, May 4, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Historic Courthouse, 124 Clark St., Covington. The public is encouraged to attend.

The Rockdale County branch of the NAACP recently honored Attorney Gary Washington with the “Jean Williams Community Service Award” in recognition of his community service. The award, named to in recognition of the branch’s first president, is the highest honor the organization bestows upon a person. Washington regularly conducts workshops to help make young people and the public at large aware of what to do when encountering law enforcement officials. He presents the workshops, “Act like a Student,Think like a Cop—Know Your Rights” and “What to do When Encountering Law Enforcement” to civic organizations, churches, high schools and colleges. Tommy…

C.J. Hicks Elementary in Conyers is celebrating Law Day with several activities for its students. Law Day in the U.S. is celebrated on May 1 every year to help citizens appreciate their liberties and cultivate respect for the law, vital to our democratic society. Students will enjoy the day by participating in a mock trial, art exhibit and competition, Poetry Power Slam and sidewalk drawings and guest speakers.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office says the murder warrant that led to the arrest Tuesday of 22-year-old Jaleel Nathanael Dix of Lithonia was subsequently dismissed and authorities have since arrested 23 year-old Javian Bernard Nesby of Decatur for the April 12, 2017 shooting death of Jordon Morris. Based on information received at the time of the incident, the DeKalb County Police Department issued a warrant on April 20, 2017 for the arrest of Dix.  Following the arrest by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Fugitive Squad on April 25, DeKalb Police homicide detectives conducted interviews, which led to another individual, Javian Bernard…

Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s Licensed Practical Nursing program has been ranked #1 in the state by www.practicalnursing.org, a website dedicated to providing substantive information to prospective students who are considering a career in nursing. GPTC’s practical nursing program achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN) from 2012 through 2015, which was practical nursing org’s evaluation period. “I congratulate the students who passed the NCLEX-PN exam and the four full-time faculty members who shepherded them through the curriculum and testing,” said GPTC President Jabari Simama. “Their success is our success.”…

The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) announced today that it has partnered with Uber to provide discounts on trips that connect to Xpress Park-and-Ride lots throughout metro Atlanta.  Under the promotion, Uber will offer a 50% discount on any uberPOOL fare that begins or ends at an Xpress Park-and-Ride during morning and afternoon commuting hours.  The promotion will run through May 31, 2017. “We are excited to partner with Uber to offer this benefit to our Xpress customers and to make transit an even easier option for metro Atlanta commuters who are looking for alternatives to driving,” said Executive…