Author: On Common Ground News

Georgia Sen. Gloria Butler (D – Stone Mountain) was recently elected to serve as co-chairwoman of the Woman’s Caucus. Butler represents Senate District 55, which includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. “I am excited about being involved in an organization that brings female legislators together to promote the interests of Georgia’s women,” said Sen. Butler. “Women are a crucial and underserved group in our state and nation. I look forward to working for and with women to create change on every level that will positively affect our lives and the lives of all Georgians.” Butler serves as the…

The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections has scheduled a hearing to consider a challenge of the qualifications of Mary-Pat Hector to hold the office of Stonecrest City Council, District Post 4. The hearing is set for Thursday, Feb. 9, 4:30 p.m., at the board’s office, 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur. It was rescheduled after Hector asked the date to be changed from Friday, Jan. 27. Candidate George Turner Jr. is challenging Hector’s age to serve. Turner said in a letter to the board that Hector is 19. The board must determine if Hector must be 21. There are…

The Georgia Lottery Corp. announced that fiscal year 2017 first-half and second-quarter profits have reached the highest since the lottery’s inception in 1993. The profits for the first half of fiscal year 2017 soared to $541 million – $24.5 million ahead of last year’s record. Second-quarter profits transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account will amount to $267.4 million, surpassing last year’s second-quarter transfer by more than $4.8 million. This brings the total raised by the Georgia Lottery for educational programs to more than $18.1 billion since the lottery began. The Georgia Lottery’s record first half follows a record…

Fourteen schools in the DeKalb County School District were recognized for generating some of the best student achievement statewide in 2016. The 2016 Single Statewide Accountability System awards, given by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, is a listing of Georgia schools that have exhibited high student performance or academic growth as measured by the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) from the three most recent school years. Awards are given for performance student performance and/or academic growth. The rating system is awarded by percentile compared to other schools in the state: bronze (93rd percentile), silver (95th percentile), gold…

The 8th Grade drama class at DeKalb County’s Champion Theme School, under the direction of Drama Teacher Joy Hammond, performed monologues for the youths of Lucious Sanders Recreation Center. The program, sponsored by the Rotary Club of South DeKalb in conjunction with the recreation center, was held at the Bruce Street Senior Center in the city of Lithonia. Pictured in the photo are students from the 8th grade year-long drama class at Champion Theme School and their teacher, Joy Hammond; South DeKalb Rotary members Ceasar Gaiters, Patricia Seals and Willie Hinton; and Lithonia Mayor Deborah A. Jackson. The Champion Drama Club will…

Gwinnett County Community Services Outreach Manager Lindsey Jorstad has been named a 2017 Next Generation of AfterSchool honoree by the National AfterSchool Association for her work on several wellness initiatives. While serving as the Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation Health and Wellness Coordinator, Jorstad collaborated with Eastside Medical Center in launching a countywide wellness program, and helped expand GCPR partnerships with several community organizations, including Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life, Gwinnett Medical Center, and Gwinnett County Public Schools. Jorstad also coordinated large annual community events, such as a Youth Sports Expo, which included sessions on concussion and head injury, the…

The homegoing celebration service will be Wednesday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m., at the New Birth Cathedral, 6400 Woodrow Road, Lithonia. To watch the live stream of the service, log onto www.newbirth.org and click on “Watch Live.” Bishop Eddie L. Long will lie in state on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the New Birth Cathedral sanctuary. There will be an additional viewing on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Please note that taking pictures or videos during the viewings or homegoing service is strictly prohibited. On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the doors to the New…

Volunteers will hit the streets to count the homeless living under bridges, on the streets, in shelters and in other places in the city of Atlanta as part of an annual report for the U.S. Census. The count in Atlanta will take place during a 24-hour period on Jan. 23 that will last overnight. DeKalb County also is participating in the count to determine its number of homeless. DeKalb’s count will take place Thursday, Jan. 26, lasting overnight. The surveys, which will include demographics for individuals living in shelters as well as those who are unsheltered, will help…

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond released his first proposed operating budget of $1.3 billion for fiscal year 2017, promising to also address chronic issues in the county including inaccurate water billing, blight and unemployment. “This budget provides a framework for strengthening the government’s fiscal condition,   improving public safety, annualizing the fiscal year 2016 pay and compensation increases and funding various infrastructure and capital improvements,” Thurmond said. “By proactively managing our resources, we will be able to maintain a projected $50.1 million fund balance, which equals one month’s operating revenue.” Prior to the official adoption of the budget, the administration will…