Author: On Common Ground News

Gregory Adams says he plans to attend his first meeting as DeKalb County’s newly-elected Super District 7 commissioner on Dec. 13. Adams, an Emory University police officer who has never before held public office, received 3,539 votes (52.24 percent of the 6,790 total votes), beating his opponent, Randal Mangham, a former state legislator who received 3,236 votes (47.7 percent), according to unofficial results from the DeKalb Supervisor of Elections Office. Adams thanked his wife, family and supporters for their hard work on his campaign. “I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my wife of 36 years, Jacqueline Adams,…

State Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler is poised to do more to expand her role in spreading global networking and fostering economic development opportunities around the world. At the Capitol on March 7, Dawkins-Haigler honored Segun Ogunsanya, the CEO of one of the largest telecommunications companies in Nigera, as she announced the U.S. launch of the Organization of World Leaders (OWL). Dawkins-Haigler founded the consortium of global leaders in business, government, health and law last year while visiting Dubai and decided to expand OWL with its launch in the U.S. “Most people see me only in my legislative role and not for…

Rockdale County invites the public to the installation ceremony of 11 of its new and re-elected public officials on Thursday, Dec. 29, 6:30 p.m. in the Rockdale County Auditorium, 903 Main St., Conyers. The evening will honor four elected officials in new roles: Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Post 1 County Commissioner, Probate Court Judge and Tax Commissioner. Six re-elected officials will be honored: Superior Court Judge, State Court Judge, Magistrate Court Judge, Clerk of Courts, Sheriff and Coroner, and a newly appointed Juvenile Court Judge. Judge David Irwin, Chief Superior Court Judge, will administer the oaths of office.…

Rockdale County Juvenile Court Judge Maureen E. Wood performed a swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 7 for three new volunteers who will work with Rockdale’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. CASA is a non-profit organization that trains community volunteers to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children in juvenile court proceedings. Rockdale currently has 55 volunteers in the program with 33 who are actively taking cases. Volunteers must go through a rigorous 10-week training process, which includes eight hours of court observation. Nationally, about 76,000 volunteers participate with CASA and serve more than 250,000 children each year,…

Abby Carter manages juries for Gwinnett County courts, so she knows that the phone calls some local residents have been getting are a scam. Typically, the caller says it’s the Gwinnett Sheriff’s Office calling to tell the victims that they didn’t show up for jury duty and that they now owe a fine of as much as $900, which can be paid over the phone with a pre-paid debit card. This is a scam, Carter says. “Law enforcement agencies do not call people and demand money. These callers often use names of people who really do work for the agency…

ATLANTA Children’s Museum of Atlanta offers free entry for kids Families are invited to attend the Children’s Museum of Atlanta free of charge on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 1 to 6 p.m., 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW. Free admission is made possible through the support of Target. Ignite your child’s imagination and inspire discovery during a day of play-based exploration. The Children’s Museum of Atlanta offers educational programs and exhibits designed for young children ages 8 and under. The museum features bright, creative, hands-on exhibits designed to promote inventive problem solving, creative thinking and artistic expression. For more information,…

The DeKalb NAACP is seeking participants for its upcoming MLK Parade. Groups or individuals who would like to participate in the parade may register online www.dekalbganaacp.org. The deadline to register is Dec. 31. The 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade will be held on the King Holiday, Monday, Jan. 16. The civil rights group’s 2017 theme is “Remembering the Dream, Honoring the Dreamer.” The grand marshal for the parade will be John Evans, former president of the DeKalb NAACP. Parade participants will line up at Green Pastures Ministries, 5455 Flatshoals Parkway, at 10 a.m. The parade starts at…

The U.S. Postal Service has announced the 2017 Forever Stamps will honor civil rights icon Dorothy Irene Height. Height, the fourth national president and national chair of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), is on the 40th stamp in the Black Heritage series for the new year. The stamp features artist Thomas Blackshear II’s gouache and acrylics on board portrait of Height. The painting is based on a 2009 photograph shot by Lateef Mangum. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp. “2017 will be an exciting year for the Postal Service’s stamp program,” said Mary-Anne Penner, U.S. Postal Service Director,…

DeKalb County Public Library is adding more than 100 additional operating hours each week beginning Jan. 3, 2017. Additional funding from DeKalb County is making it possible for the Library to restore weekend and evening hours cut at many branches in 2011 due to budget shortfalls. Director Alison Weissinger says because of the additional funds, the Library has been able to hire enough staff to restore 111 operating hours per week to the system. The County increased the Library’s mid-year budget by $490,733. “We want to thank DeKalb County interim CEO Lee May and the Board of Commissioners for approving…

Bring in 2017 at one of the best New Year’s Eve celebrations in metro Atlanta. “Putting on the Glitz III” will return to the Courtyard Marriott and Conference Center in downtown Decatur. The annual event is hosted by Boomers Consulting, LLC. Festivities begin at 7 p.m. with presentations to military veterans and delicious food prepared by the Executive Chef.  The party continues from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with dancing and music by the Soul Cartel Band. Advance tickets are $60 per person and $75 per person at the door. Purchase tickets online at newyearscartel.eventbrite.com or call 678-230-0428 or…