Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputies made 19 arrests in a county-wide operation four days before Christmas aimed at men and women who were wanted for failure to meet court-ordered financial obligations to their children and some who are accused of cruelty to children. The operation to find “deadbeat” parents involved a day-long sweep of the county that executed 174 warrants.  While warrants are endeavored year-round for these misdemeanors, a special effort is frequently made during the holiday season. “The offending parent is already aware of the obligation and is rarely surprised when we show up with an arrest warrant,” says Sheriff…

Church fires are a serious problem in America.  There are measures that can be taken to prevent fires in places of worship.  When churches burn, the contents and valuables that are lost are priceless articles that cannot be replaced.  Reducing a church vulnerability to arson or fire is important. The DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department is hosting “Faith in Fire Safety: Preventing Fires in Church and Worship Centers Forum” on Jan. 24, 10 am – 3 p.m., at the DeKalb County Fire Rescue Headquarters, 5th floor Conference Room, 1950 West Exchange Place, Tucker. Fire rescue personnel will provide information on…

The Henry County NAACP is sponsoring its 4th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m., Shiloh Baptist Church Education Center, 253 Macon Street, McDonough. The guest speaker will be the Rev.. William E. Flippin, Sr., senior pastor of Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church, Atlanta. Tickets and information on all events are available at henrycountyganaacp.com. The MLK Parade/Peace March will be held on Monday, Jan. 16. The parade will start at 10 a.m. at the Henry County Performing Arts Center, 37 Lemon Street and travel through historic downtown McDonough. The event is free and…

State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia), along with Rep. Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain) and the Upsilon Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. will co-sponsor a discussion concerning the national popular vote on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at the Centerville Community Center, 3025 Bethany Church Road, Snellville. Kendrick will moderate as Rep. Brad Raffensperger (R-Johns Creek) and national expert Scott Drexel discuss the national popular vote effort and Georgia’s involvement in the movement. The objectives of this discussion are: To learn what the Electoral College is and dispel myths To learn how the interstate compact will…

A Pre-Legislative Town Hall Meeting will be held on Jan. 5, 6:30 p.m., at the Doraville Civic Center, 3770 Central Ave. ,Doraville. The purpose of the meeting is to give constituents an opportunity to meet their representatives and to voice their concerns about their communities and the state prior to the beginning of the 2017 Legislative Session. No sign-up is necessary. For more information, constituents can contact the office of Rep. Karen Bennett, District 94, at 404-656-0202.

 The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management recently completed 400 miles of sewer pipe smoke testing, and identified public and private lines in need of repair. The smoke testing of sewer lines is one type of required assessment outlined in DeKalb County’s 2011 federal Consent Decree. In this test, a nontoxic smoke is inserted in section of sewer pipe. If smoke escapes through the ground, it indicates a breach in the sewer pipe. In addition, the test also detects breaches in private laterals, stormwater tie-ins, and any other situation that allows either stormwater to get into the system or wastewater…

My Fellow Citizens, Thank you for welcoming me back to office as your CEO. As I complete my term, which ends on Dec. 31 at midnight, I have pledged to continue to make your priorities the priority of your county government, and to keep you informed of those critical issues which impact your quality of life. Upon returning to office, I immediately began working on a resolution to our water billing crisis. Some of you have received inordinately high water bills, and others have received no bills for several months. There are a number of reasons we have identified for…

Atlanta city officials say over 3,500 jobs will be created as a result of the mixed-use development called 725 Ponce.   . The Kroger is being demolished to make way for the $188 million development, located along the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. The project will bring an urban and modern 60,000-square-foot Kroger store and approximately 360,000 square feet of mixed-use development to fruition. “We are proud to break ground on 725 Ponce, a development which promises to have a valuable and significant impact on the quality of life in this thriving neighborhood,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “This new development will bring more than…

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Decide DeKalb Development Authority recognized R.L. Brown, Founder and CEO of R.L. Brown and Associates, for his recent appointment as Chair of the State Transportation Board. More than 100 members of the business community were in attendance at the Chamber’s holiday reception at Parkers on Ponce to recognize Brown. Sponsors included AT&T, Georgia Power, Citizens Trust Bank, CH2M, CERM, Council for Quality Growth, Gude Management Group, Pendleton Group, Grice Consulting Group and Silverman Construction Program Management, Inc. “We applaud and support Mr. R.L. Brown for his recent appointment. As an active business and…

The Conyers Downtown Development Authority (DDA) presented its second annual Outstanding Achievement Award to Jorge Flores of the Law Office of Jorge Luis Flores for his efforts in preserving and beautifying his new office located at 951 Railroad Street in Olde Town, Conyers. The building, initially a residence built in the late 1800s and since then utilized for a myriad of commercial uses including a funeral home, restaurant and antique store, was recently renovated by Attorney Flores. An Olde Town business owner since 2002, Flores said the building had extensive water damage when he purchased it and needed a new…