Author: On Common Ground News

Stonecrest mayoral candidate Charles Hill held a news conference on Monday and stated that he does not have any mental health issues. His doctor confirmed that he has no such medical issues. Hill held the press conference in response to a postcard that residents in the city received on Saturday suggesting that he is bipolar and unfit to hold public office. The postcard pictured Charles Hill and a naked man (U.S. military veteran, Anthony Hill, who was bipolar and was shot and killed by a DeKalb police officer). Anthony Hill has nothing to do with the elections under way…

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Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area officials, DeKalb County commissioners and other key partners unveiled renderings of the signage that will mark trailheads and other areas of historic and natural interests in the National Heritage Area. The unveiling followed another big announcement on the same day: the DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs’ launch of the South River Kyak Access Point at 4460 Panola Road, Lithonia. Once that project is completed, a path will provide access to the edge of the South River Water Trail for non-motorized watercraft. Mera Cardenas, executive director of the Arabia Mountain Heritage…

The Honorable Bishop Egleton Leroy Woodside, Sr. received his Wings of Glory and went home to be with God on Friday morning, March 10, 2017. He was 78. Bishop Woodside was a premarital counselor, marriage counselor, life teacher and he was over benevolence at Voices of Faith Ministries under the leadership of Bishop Gary Hawkins, Sr.. Bishop Woodside was the fifth son of eleven children born to the late Bishop Herbert Woodside, Sr. and the late Evangelist Lillian Maude Woodside on Dec. 12, 1938. He was raised and educated in Florida and it was there that he received Christ as his…

State Rep. Vernon Jones has filed an ethics complaint against DeKalb County’s Ethics Officer Stacey Kalberman for violating state laws that prohibit the ethics officer from involvement in the county’s political affairs. Jones filed the report on March 15, citing his own personal observations and media reports of Kalberman actively working to get legislation passed to make changes to the DeKalb County Board of Ethics. The state ethics law, passed in 2015, states in Section 22Å(i)(2): “The ethics officer shall not be involved in partisan or nonpartisan political activities or the political affairs of DeKalb County.” Additionally, the Board of…

During the first Saturday of Operation Clean Sweep, DeKalb County crews removed more than 50 tons of debris from a 12-mile stretch of South Stone Mountain-Lithonia, Panola and Redan roads. “Operation Clean Sweep is an initiative created by DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond, voted on by the commissioners and organized across several DeKalb departments,” said Director of Beautification Marcus Kellum. “We all know what we need to do, and we’re ready to do it.” At the March 11 kickoff, Thurmond honored DeKalb resident Cynthia Houston who helped inspire the Operation Clean Sweep initiative. “Long before I ever thought about…

Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival The third annual Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival will be held on March 25-26h 26, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road NE, Brookhaven. Families, including four legged friends, are invited out for an afternoon of fun in the sun, food and live music. The two-day festival will include a pet costume contest and pet parade, interactive children’s village, a classic car show, 5K Race and 1K walk, artisan’s marketplace, food trucks. For more information, visit brookcherryfest.org.   ATLANTA Local author presents civil rights lecture with rarely seen photos The Auburn…

State Sen. Tonya Anderson (D – Lithonia) will host a town hall meeting on Monday, March 27, 6:30 until 8 p.m., at Antioch A.M.E. Church, 765 S. Hairston Road, Stone Mountain. The meeting will cover bills that have passed in the Senate, bills on the calendar and how this legislation could affect you and your family. Sen. Anderson encourages members of the public to attend as this meeting serves as a forum for concerned citizens to have their voices heard by legislators. Anderson represents the 43rd Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb, Newton and Rockdale counties. She may be…

Join DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson and staff members along with District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw for an in-depth look at how homeowners and senior citizens may save money on their annual property taxes. The meeting will be held on Monday, March 27, 7 p.m., DeKalb County Fire Station Community #25 Community Room, 7136 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain. For more information, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/taxcommissioner or call 404-298-4000. Commissioner Bradshaw can be reached at Srbradshaw@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-371-4907.

The City of Decatur is hosting its annual Touch-A-Budget Expo, 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, on the MARTA Plaza. Every one in the community is welcome at this free event. The purpose of Touch-A-Budget is to engage people of all ages in the city’s budgeting process in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. In addition to learning about the city’s plans for spending in the July 2017 – June 2018 fiscal year, the expo will feature music, food and prizes. The popular Card of Strategy game returns this year, appropriate for ages 5 to 105. Public safety and public…