Author: On Common Ground News

By Mackenzie N. Morgan Applause and cheers filled the DeKalb County Board of Elections chambers as the board unanimously decided that Mary-Pat Heactor is qualified to run for office in the city of Stonecrest. The 19-year-old Spelman College sophomore will be one of four candidates on the ballot seeking the District 4 seat on the new Stonecrest City Council, which will be comprised of five members and a mayor. Election Day is March 21. Opponent George Turner, Jr. had challenged Hector’s age to serve. The board had to determine if Hector needed to be 21 since the city’s charter…

There will be no retrial in the Burrell Ellis case. DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced at a Feb. 6 press conference that she had signed the order to dismiss the case against the former DeKalb CEO. She said she reviewed the case and there was no need for a retrial. Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson granted Boston’s request to dismiss the case. Attorney Dwight Thomas, part of Ellis’ legal team, said that Boston “did the right thing. She did the honorable thing. It’s finally over.” The decision is one that Ellis had been waiting for since the…

Flat Rock Methodist Episcopal Church which was built in the 1860s, remodeled in 1919 and torn down in 1971. Photo courtesy of Flat Rock Archives.   DeKalb History Center to host 9th Annual Black History Month Celebration The DeKalb History Center invites the community to attend its 9th Annual Black History Month Celebration on Feb. 23, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur (second floor). The center will present a program with a dynamic, multi-layered mix of scholars, long-time residents of Flat Rock and Shermantown, and theatrical entertainment to bring the…

Atlanta City Councilmember Natalyn Archibong is proposing legislation authorizing $42,500 in funding to help the Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta. continue its mission of connecting the American Civil Rights Movement to today’s global Human Rights Movement. Last year, it was reported that the Atlanta tourist’s attraction was struggling to meet projected revenues. CEO Derrick Kayongo said the center’s attendance revenues covered less than 50 percent of its costs, forcing the center to rely on donations to make up the rest. Kayongo said total revenue for 2015 was $5.5…

Rockdale County Commissioner Sherri Washington said she plans to push for better ways to promote County meetings, town halls and other activities that impact Rockdale residents. Washington said she would work with her fellow commissioners to make marketing a priority after constituents who her attended her first community “Tea Talk” on Tuesday asked if additional resources could be used to inform residents of upcoming events. Washington fielded several questions during the 45-minute meeting, which was held at Awake Coffee right before the Board of Commissioners work session. Washington also got feedback on a critical proposal that the Board of…

Last year, the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) Toilet Retrofit Rebate Program sent rebate checks totaling $183,563 to homeowners who replaced older toilets with new efficient WaterSense-approved models. In 2016 alone, more than 1,200 homeowners took advantage of the program, which has paid a total of $2.6 million in rebates since it began in 2008. “Water conservation is a big deal because DeKalb is one of 52 counties that remain under a Level 2 Drought in Georgia,” said DWM Director Scott Towler. “Not only do low-flow toilets save water, which is a high priority for all of us…

In observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday, Feb. 20, garbage, recyclable materials and yard trimmings collection for residential customers will be based on a revised collection schedule. The revised schedule is as follows: Monday, Feb. 20 – Presidents Day observed. No sanitation collection service. Tuesday, Feb. 21 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Monday, Feb. 20, will be serviced on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Wednesday, Feb. 22 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, Feb. 21, will be serviced on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Thursday, Feb. 23 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday,…

ATLANTA Atlanta Mission hosts 5K race to end homelessness The Atlanta Mission, which provides services to Atlanta’s homeless population, is hosting The Race to End Homelessness on Saturday, Feb. 18, 8:15 a.m., at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. Thousands are expected to run in the race, in the cold, for those who sleep in the cold. According to the Atlanta Mission’s website, there are over 7,000 homeless individuals in metro Atlanta. Registration is $30 in advance or $35 on race day. Registration fees cover one night of shelter and services for one man, woman or child facing homelessness. …

State Rep. Michele Henson (D- Stone Mountain) will host “Eggs & Issues: A Community Forum” on Saturday, Feb. 25, 9 – 10:30 a.m., at St. Timothy UMC Church, 5365 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain. The event will with feature guest speaker, Larry Pellegrini, executive director of Georgia Rural Urban Summit and community activist, who will share advice on how to best advocate for themselves and the issues that are important to them. Henson will provide updates on the major events of the 2017 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly so far and give attendees the opportunity to discuss their ideas,…

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is looking for eligible organizations to sponsor the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in their communities in 2017. The SFSP, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), provides access to healthy meals to children during the summer months when school is not in session. DECAL administers the SFSP in Georgia. The SFSP reimburses non-profit and government organizations for providing free meals to eligible children in low-income areas during the summer months. The following entities can qualify as sponsors: public or private nonprofit schools; universities, colleges or camps;…