Author: On Common Ground News

The third annual Kingdom Builders Gospel Awards will take place on Saturday, Aug. 26, 6 p.m., at Georgia Piedmont’s Conference Center in Clarkston. The Kingdom Builders Gospel Awards is a national gospel awards show that recognizes outstanding contributions and achievement in the Christian community.  Nominations are open for the public to nominate outstanding leaders, churches and organizations until June 30 by visiting www.kingdombuildersawards.com. The Kingdom Builders Gospel Awards is a multicultural, black-tie awards program that honors Christian men, women, youth and business owners who exemplify a standard of excellence in carrying out the works of…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at his “Extending the Legacy” program on Friday, June 2, 1 p.m., at the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia. The commemoration’s primary objective, as penned by Congress, is to thank and honor the Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the nation. The commemoration recognizes all who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the period of Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975 and their families. “We make no distinction between veterans who…

Rockdale County government, Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts (CRCA) and the Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council Film Office are partnering to present a workshop on business and professional opportunities Georgia’s growing filming industry is providing. The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Black Box Theater at 910 Center St., Conyers. Registration for the free event starts at 10 a.m. and closes at 10:30 a.m. Seating is limited. Workshop facilitators will discuss the $50 million impact the state’s film industry has made in Rockdale and the economic impact the industry has…

State Sen. Tonya Anderson (D – Lithonia) has been selected to serve on the Compensation of Police and Sheriffs (COPS) Task Force by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle. The task force will review compensation and benefits for law enforcement officers and consider ways to increase retention rates statewide. “I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the men and women who risk their lives daily for the safety and protection of others,” said Anderson. “This task force is a step in the right direction to helping properly compensate our law enforcement while gaining insight from our local law enforcement…

STONECREST—The Rockland Road closure, between North Goddard Road and Klondike Road, has been extended. The road is currently closed to complete the replacement of a sewer force main and will remain closed until July 30. Road closure and detour signs are placed in the area to advise motorists of construction work and traffic restrictions. For more information, contact Mellonee Rheams, DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management senior construction inspector, at 404-771-7832.

The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs is inviting parents to learn more about summer day camp programs during orientation night on Thursday, June 1, at 7 p.m. Summer camp programs are offered for youths ages 5-15 and information sessions will be held at all recreation centers, except Redan Recreation Center. For more information, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks or call 404-371-2711. Orientation night is being held at the following DeKalb Recreation Centers: ·      Browns Mill Recreation Center: 5101 Browns Mill Road, Lithonia, GA 30038 ·      Exchange Recreation Center: 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30034 ·      Gresham Recreation Center: 3113…

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston today announced the conviction in the retrial of Pamela Ballin, 56, who was accused of bludgeoning her husband, Derrick Ballin, Sr., 53. She was charged with murder, felony murder and aggravated assault in the nearly 8-year-old case. Mr. Ballin was attacked on Dec. 29, 2009 inside the Ballins’ Turnbridge Wells Road home in Lithonia and he later died in the hospital. Authorities say they believe Pamela Ballin was motivated by two life insurance policies totaling $1.2 million. Her husband owned a lawn service company on Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road in Lithonia. Authorities say Pamela Ballin staged…

Rockdale County Department of Transportation (RDOT) will make a presentation on several key topics at the Board of Commissioners’ June 20 meeting. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Assembly Hall, 901 Main St., Conyers. The meeting is being held in the evening to give more residents the opportunity to attend. Transportation officials are expected to discuss how the public can report road maintenance needs, why some projects take longer than others, how to get on a SPLOST list, as well as other transportation topics that are of interest to the citizens of the Rockdale community. For…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) welcomes new additions and roles in school leadership positions for the 2017-2018 school year. Dr. LaSharon McClain was recently named the new principal of Flat Shoals Elementary (FSE). Tammy Smith, FSE principal for 2016-2017, is retiring after more than three decades as an educator. Dr. McClain comes to RCPS from Upson-Lee South Elementary where she has been principal since 2011. Before that, she worked in Newton County as an assistant principal at South Salem Elementary and Heard-Mixon Elementary and a second grade teacher at Ficquett Elementary. She was named 2004 Teacher of the Year…

Rockdale County High School senior Galilea Garcia has been named the 2017 Interact Scholarship Winner. Garcia, who serves as president of the Rockdale County High School (RCHS) Interact Club, earned the $1,000 scholarship from the Rotary Club of Conyers. “I’m really excited. It’s awesome to see how much your community has your back. It feels really good to be recognized for something you love to do when you didn’t expect it at all,” said Garcia. Rotary Club of Conyers Youth Services Chair Ruth Wilson describes Garcia, who plans to become a Rotarian after college and mentor other minority girls…