Author: On Common Ground News

Local author, consultant and retired Air Force Reservist, Calvin Stevens, will be the featured speaker at the Annual Celebration of Veterans Day, on Sunday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m., St Paul A.M.E. Worship, 1704 S. St. Mountain-Lithonia Road, Lithonia. Stevens, former First Sergeant for the 94 Civil Engineer Squadron, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, entered the Air Force in June 1966. He retired from military service on March 29, 2007 with 31 ½ years of service and several awards including: Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (3 devices) and the Global War…

Make plans to attend Gwinnett County’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony, which will be held Friday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m., at the Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial at in Lawrenceville. This event is held each year to celebrate the county’s military veterans and public service personnel. Gwinnett’s Board of Commissioners will provide remarks. In addition, honor guard units from the Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services and Police departments, Sheriff’s Office, and Corrections, and the city of Lawrenceville Police Department will take part in this event. The Fallen Heroes Memorial is located on the grounds of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley…

Odds are that a new City of Stonecrest will force citizens to pay higher taxes to support an additional layer of duplicative government. A new city is unnecessary and will not, in and of itself, achieve greater commercial sector growth. Citizens living in the proposed City of Stonecrest would not only pay county taxes; they would also have to pay city taxes to support a new bureaucracy. DeKalb has been and continues to be a great county. As its demographics changed, the county has been fragmented by municipalization. The City of Dunwoody incorporated around MARTA rail service and took within…

“Today, I am announcing my opposition to Amendment 1 on the November 8th ballot, which calls for a constitutional amendment to create a state-controlled school district in Georgia. I oppose this proposal because I believe it will inevitably result in the diversion of public funds for public schools to private entities, with inadequate oversight, and without accountability to parents. I believe such a change in our state, through the permanent measure of a constitutional amendment, will weaken our public schools and create conditions where they become the last resort for desperate families, rather than a symbol of excellence and source…

ATLANTA– Andre Jones was sentenced to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty on Oct. 21 to Human Trafficking, Pimping a Minor, and Pandering a Minor, in a case prosecuted by the Georgia Attorney General’s Office. Jones will have to serve 9 years for the 2014 incident where he trafficked a 17-year-old girl in Fulton County. On Nov. 14, 2014, Jones drove the girl to a luxury hotel in Buckhead for the purpose of prostitution where she was recovered by the FBI’s child trafficking task force.  Jones had enticed her to work for him to make money to go to college.…

Editor’s Note: Ed Williams, an opponent of cityhood, has written numerous editorials on why he stands against the movement. He outlined several reasons why he opposes the incorporation of Stonecrest In the Oct. 21 edition of On Common Ground News. Proponents responded to Williams’ editorial with the following of their own: Here’s what voters should know. Ed Williams is a proponent for expanding county government, only.  He’s campaigned against other cityhood movements, but most vigorously against proposed South DeKalb cities with majority black populations – targeting Greenhaven and Stonecrest. Williams makes the false claim that the economic development plan would move…

The annual DeKalb County surplus auction will be held Saturday, Oct. 29, at 10 a.m., at Adesa Atlanta, 5055 Oakley Industrial Blvd., Fairburn. The public can preview the inventory online at www.adesarigs.com, in person on Friday, Oct. 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or on the morning of the auction at 8 a.m. “This is really a win-win for the county and its residents,” Interim CEO May said. “The county gets to dispose of outdated items, while other governments and private citizens can get a good deal on well-maintained used equipment.” Items for sale include police cars, fire trucks,…

WorkSource DeKalb and the One-Stop Disabilities Committee will host a disability awareness forum on Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 9 – 11 a.m. at 774 Jordan Lane, Bldg. No. 4, Decatur. The forum will inform and educate the community, service providers and job seekers about accommodation and services for persons with physical and mental disabilities. Several business professionals and organizations that have a vast amount of experience in disability awareness will be on hand. Presenting agencies include Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitated Services, Social Security Administration, Disability Link, DeKalb Housing Authority and more. ­­­ For additional information, contact Roderick…

Terrific Thursdays are back with special in-store events, discounts, and treats at more than 20 shops, restaurants, and services in the City of Decatur.  Participating businesses will stay open late, offering beverages, snacks and special offers. Small Business Saturday and Sunday will include holiday music, giveaways, free gift wrapping for city of Decatur shop purchases, and a special Saturday Santa appearance, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Spend $200 at any Decatur shop during the month of November, bring your receipts to the Decatur Visitors Center and receive a $20 gift card from a local restaurant. You don’t have to spend $200 all in…