Author: On Common Ground News

The Office of the DeKalb County Solicitor-General announces the recent hiring of Carolyn Smith, as the office’s director of communications. Smith is responsible for promoting the Solicitor-General’s efforts to improve the quality of life for DeKalb County citizens to the public. She will manage the office’s media relations, social media and promote community events. “It’s our goal to build a safer community for the people of DeKalb County, and one way we do this is by keeping them informed of what we’re doing to better our community,” said Donna Coleman-Stribling, DeKalb County Solicitor-General. “By adding Carolyn Smith to our team,…

Rockdale County students kissed summer goodbye and returned to classes on Monday, July 31. While some parents held their small children’s hands, other students stepped off school buses and were welcomed by principals and teachers. At Pine Street Elementary School, some students excitedly hugged Principal Kim Vier, who welcomed them on the first day. Rockdale Schools Superintendent Richard Autry also paid a visit to the historic school, greeting students in the cafeteria. This school year will mark the last time that students occupy the Pine Street school building in downtown Conyers, where generations of Rockdale families have attended including Vier…

DeKalb County public schools will host open houses for elementary, middle schools and high schools beginning on Wednesday. Parents are encouraged to attend to meet faculty and get important information to ensure students have a successful year. The open houses for elementary schools will be held Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2 to 4 p.m. The open houses for all middle schools will be held Aug. 2, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The open houses for all 9th graders and new students will be held on Aug. 3, 2 to 4 p.m. The open house for returning students on Aug. 3,…

ATLANTA –Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) contractors will begin to shift traffic this week from the existing Flat Shoals Road Bridge onto a new section of the bridge at I-285 east, weather permitting. “The upcoming traffic shifts are milestones for the bridge reconstruction project,” said District Metro Atlanta Engineer Kathy Zahul. “This just puts us one step closer to a successful completion of the project, we are thankful for the patience that the community has displayed during our progress with this project.” The traffic shift is a part of the ongoing bridge project that will accommodate the…

Are you in the mood for gourmet sweet goods? Head to Brown Sugar Gourmet Desserts in Conyers where you’ll find mouth-watering baked goods with a distinctive flair. This bakery specializes in decadent creations, which include custom birthday, wedding, and special event cakes. Partners Roderica Bracey and Janice Colbert are owners of the business, which celebrated its 1-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony in April. Bracey and Colbert have approximately 15 years of combined baking experience. The two were co-workers at ADP and developed a loyal following by offering catering services independently. They teamed up and started a business together…

DeKalb County Sheriff Jeff Mann has been banished from all city of Atlanta parks for six months, ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and serve 80 hours of community service, after negotiating a plea deal to amend indecency and obstruction charges against him.    Mann was originally charged with indecency and obstruction  on May 6 for allegedly exposing himself in Piedmont Park and then running from an Atlanta police officer.    Mann negotiated a guilty plea to change the charges to obstruction and prohibited conduct in a park—for being in the park after dark. Although Atlanta Municipal Court Judge Crystal…

DeKalb County Police Chief James Conroy announced two new assistant chiefs in the police department who will report directly to him. Major Tony Catlin will be promoted from assistant commander to assistant chief of the Criminal Investigations Division, which is responsible for investigating homicides, robberies, aggravated assaults, sexual assaults, auto thefts, narcotics violations and crimes against children. Catlin will be responsible for managing a division comprising 105 detectives and 22 civilian employees. Major Sonya Porter will be promoted to assistant chief of the newly elevated Support Services Division. Previously a section of the Special Services Division, this reorganization emphasizes…

The DeKalb County School District (CSD) is on a mission to highlight the successes of its public schools. The district has launched a campaign with seven outdoor billboards located in strategic locations across the county with the message: “I Love DeKalb Schools.” The billboards are part of the first phase of a what the district calls a “revolutionary” marketing effort, which will also include print ads, television commercials, an original jingle performed by DCSD students, promotional materials and social media. In addition, a new webpage http://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/ilovedcsd/ has been launched simultaneously, with messaging that reflects the unity, spirit and diversity of…

The community celebrated the completion of renovations at the Johnson Park Recreation Center, 2781 Ebenezer Road, Conyers, during an open house on July 27. The county spent $334,000 renovating the recreation center putting in new carpet, new paint, upgrades for the disabled to use restrooms, renovated locker rooms and improvements to the gym and indoor pool area. Rockdale Chairman Oz Nesbitt commended staff for work at the recreation center, saying he was proud of the improvements.

The city of Stonecrest, this year, will collect only 5 percent of the taxes levied on lodging for hotel/motel guests. The Stonecrest City Council amended its hotel/motel tax ordinance on July 24 to collect only 5 percent—not 8 percent as it had approved on June 19. City Attorney Thompson Kurrie said the city would be able to collect the full 8 percent, as DeKalb County had before the new city was formed, with the approval of state legislators. Meanwhile, city officials said 3 percent of the hotel/motel taxes would be used for the city’s general operating fund, while the remainder…