Author: On Common Ground News

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…

DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis honored 25 individuals and organizations during his fifth CEO’s Community Hero Awards on Dec. 27 at the DeKalb History Center. “Thank you for the time you take away from your other responsibilities in life to volunteer with organizations in DeKalb County,” CEO Ellis said. “Thank you for your work to improve the quality of life for our citizens. And most importantly, thank you for the gift of service that you have unselfishly given to our county.” Hosted in partnership with The Champion Newspaper, the CEO’s Community Hero Awards recognized outstanding individuals and organizations making a…

       Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson, “Master Motivator Teacher and Mentor,” will hold his annual Christmas Break Leadership Chess Camp in Stone Mountain, Georgia. This week-long leadership camp will offer early drop-off and late pickup.  Hudson will use his signature chess skills and abilities to provide information, insight and advice on the importance of making every move in life count. Hudson has trained more than 50,000 students and his goal is to reach 1 million youngsters as he continues to train new teachers/motivators to spread the positive life lessons learned through the game of chess. Hudson is a believer…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan The Rockdale County Think Tank announced that the county’s very first Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade and festival will be held on the national holiday, Monday, Jan. 16, in Olde Town, noon to 5 p.m. The county’s newly-elected chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Oz Nesbitt, will serve as Grand Marshal, helping to usher in what organizers hope will become a lasting tradition in Georgia’s geographically second-smallest county. The community is invited to commemorate the legacy of Dr. King during a daylong festival and parade that promises a fun, festive day with food…

 A crowd of dignitaries, family and supporters attended the Dec. 19 joint swearing-in and induction ceremonies for DeKalb County’s District Attorney Sherry Boston and Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling. The two women were sworn in at the historic Saint Philip AME Church in Atlanta, where the church’s pastor, Dr. William D. Watley, welcomed those in attendance. Boston and Coleman-Stribling secured their victories during the Nov. 8 General Election after defeating their respective opponents in the May Primary. Boston previously served as the DeKalb County Solicitor-General, a position she held since 2011. During her tenure, Boston was instrumental in the development…

The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) recently sent 5,000 notifications to food service establishments in DeKalb County to advise them to restrict serving water to only customers who make requests. The advisory comes in the wake of a Level 2 drought. In November, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division declared a Level 2 drought in 52 Georgia counties including DeKalb. In response to the drought, all food service establishments are instructed to serve water only to customers who request it. To conform with state regulations, this requirement is in effect immediately as part of DeKalb County’s Drought Restrictions response…

South DeKalb resident Eric Hubbard announced he is running for a seat on the new city of Stonecrest’s City Council. Hubbard, Congressman Hank Johnson’s Outreach Director for the past decade, is running for the District 3 seat. “I am offering myself for service to help build the city of Stonecrest,” said Hubbard. “I’ve been serving the South DeKalb community and beyond for many years. I know this community and the community knows me. As we come together to create a new city in south DeKalb, I’d like the opportunity to make a difference as our representative for District 3.” Hubbard…