Author: On Common Ground News

The inaugural events for DeKalb CEO-elect Michael Thurmond will begin Thursday. The “New Day for DeKalb Inaugural Celebration 2017” steering committee is co-chaired by Greg and Betty Levett and Will and Virginia Reece. In a joint statement, the co-chairs said: “We are honored and thrilled to lead this celebration of our new CEO and the dedicated men and women who serve our county. CEO-elect Thurmond will provide new leadership, new vision and a new direction for our county. We are convinced that a new day has dawned in DeKalb County.” The events are free and open to the public, unless…

Three people are running for mayor and 17 others have qualified to run for a seat on the new five-member Stonecrest City Council. The 20 candidates running for the March 21 elections are: Mayor Jason Lary 6844 Main Street Lithonia, GA 30058 Phone: 770-484-8740 jasonlarysr@gmail.com Douglas E. Favors, II P.O. Box 361436 Decatur, GA 30036 Phone: 678-292-6852 dougfavors@gmail.com Charles Hill, II 4135 N. Goddard Road Lithonia, GA 30038 Phone: 404-234-1990 City Council, Post 1 Jimmy Clanton P.O. Box 1495 Lithonia, GA 30058 Phone: 404-657-6283 jimmyclantonjr@gmail.com Charles Ross P.O. Box 870928 Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Phone:…

STONECREST– The Governor’s Commission on City of Stonecrest will hold a public meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 6:30 PM. The meeting will be held at: DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale Radiation Oncology Building – Auditorium 2745 DeKalb Medical Pkwy, Stonecrest, GA 30058 This is a business meeting to update residents on various issues, adopt resolutions, initiate activities of the Stonecrest Community Committee, and other related business. – Joel Thibodeaux, Chair AGENDA Public comments will be heard from 6:30 to 7:00 PM. Call to Order and Invocation Updates and comments from Commission Members Consideration of Resolution to name Commission’s…

The Rockdale Board of Commissioners today confirmed Chairman Oz Nesbitt’s selection of Corey K. Hambrick as Chief of Staff. Hambrick, 33, will start in his new role on Jan. 16. Hambrick led Nesbitt’s transition team overseeing the transfer of administrations when Nesbitt took office on Jan. 1. “ I want to express my sincere appreciation to Post 1 Commissioner, Attorney Sherri Washington, and Post 2 Commissioner, Dr. Doreen Williams, for their continued support of ournew direction, specifically selection of our Chief of Staff, Corey Hambrick,” said Nesbitt. “There is a spirit of cohesiveness in the air and it smells,…

Starting in February, Rockdale County Commissioner Sherri Washington plans to host “Tea Talks” to hear constituents’ concerns and suggestions. Washington said at today’s Board of Commissioners’ (BOC) meeting that she plans to host the Tea Talks monthly on the first and second Tuesdays, just ahead of the board meetings. “I hope that residents will talk about their needs in the community: for example, having more parks and recreation facilities. During the budget cycle, they may want to discuss budgetary issues,” said Washington, who was sworn in a few days ago as Rockdale’s new Post 1 commissioner. “It’s just a way…

Jason Lary qualified today to run as mayor of the city of Stonecrest, the lone candidate in the race so far. All of the City Council seats, however, now have challengers. Eric Hubbard had been the only contender running for the City Council, Post 3 seat, but Jazzmin Randall Cobble joined the race today, the supervisor of Elections reported this evening. Meanwhile, Post 2 has four contenders, more than any of the races. Qualifying ends on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. The 14 candidates who have qualified so far for the March 21 elections are: Mayor Jason Lary 6844 Main…

City of Stonecrest election updates Today, Jason Lary qualified to run as mayor of the city of Stonecrest. So far, Lary is the only candidate who has qualified for mayor. Also, three more people qualified today to run for the District 2 Council seat, joining Plez Joyner in that race: Alexis Bethel Morris; Gretchen Jones Torbert; and Rob Turner: Below are the candidates who have qualified so far: Mayor Jason Lary 6844 Main Street Lithonia, GA 30058 Phone: (B) 770-484-8740 jasonlarysr@gmail.com City Council District 1 Jimmy Clanton, Jr. P.O. Box 1495 Lithonia, GA 30058 Phone: (B) 404-657-6283        Email:…

DeKalb County Extension is accepting applications for the DeKalb Mobile Farmers Market stops for 2017. Launched in May 2015, the mobile market provides fresh, affordable produce and food demonstrations to county residents. The market visits areas around the county four days a week for 16 weeks.  Applications for the 2017 season will be accepted online at the link below through Monday, Feb. 20. The DeKalb Mobile Farmers Market is a program of DeKalb County Extension with support from the DeKalb County Board of Health.  The program is made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For information…

Health TRUST Rockdale, the grant making division of the Hospital Authority of Rockdale County (HARC), will accept applications Jan. 30 through Feb. 3 for the first of two grant cycles planned for 2017. Nonprofit or government agencies working to improve the physical and mental health of Rockdale residents are encouraged to apply. HARC completed its last grant cycle in December, awarding $553,435 to 15 agencies, bringing the total awarded last year to more than $660,000. Grant recipients during the last round were: Atlanta Cancer Care Foundation A.R. “Gus” Barksdale Boys and Girls Club Care & Counseling Center of Georgia…

ATLANTA — David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) has again been re-elected as Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives. Ralston was first elected as Speaker in January 2010 and serves as the 73rd Speaker of the House. Ralston addressed the House following his re-election. “It is my hope that we will begin this work with a spirit of optimism and with a commitment to the ideals of civility, mutual respect and decorum,” said Speaker Ralston. “Today, we are a growing, dynamic state – reaching with optimism to a future filled with promise and greatness.” “We begin this Session at a moment…