Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Public Library is hosting a hands-on exhibit about the impact engineers and technology have on our lives to educate both, children and adults. Explore Tech: Engineers Make a World of Difference will be on display Aug. 27 through Oct. 18, at the Hairston Crossing Library, 4911 Redan Road, Stone Mountain. The exhibit includes multimedia components to show how engineers come up with solutions to meet human needs, develop innovations for the future, and create new technologies to solve problems. It includes a touchscreen computer kiosk that contains games that are fun and that educate the public about the…

Springfield Baptist Church, 1877 Iris Drive, Conyers, will host a food distribution event for those who are in need. Registration for the free food and distribution dates are as scheduled: Monday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 23, 9 a.m. until the food supply is exhausted. The food will be distributed at the Springfield Activity Center, behind the church’s worship center). All recipients must show identification to register. For more information, call 678-806-3378, ext. 226.

Joseph and Sarah Caring for Veterans is hosting its annual fundraiser, “Homeless For a Night,” on Sept. 23. The American Legion Post #77, 674 Legion Road, in Conyers, will host this year’s event beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday and ending on Saturday at 7 a.m. Supporters of veterans and those interested in helping the homeless are invited to step outside their comfort zone and be homeless for one night to increase awareness of the plight of homeless veterans and others. Joseph and Sarah Caring for Vets provides transitional housing to assist chronically homeless veterans return to permanent housing. We assist…

Members of Rockdale County Fire-Rescue are set to kick off the firefighters’ annual “Fill the Boot” fundraising campaign to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) find urgently needed treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases that severely limit strength and mobility. Thousands of dedicated firefighters across America participate in MDA’s “Fill the Boot” campaign, hitting the streets or standing outside of storefronts asking motorists and pedestrians to make a donation to MDA. More than 140 firefighters from Fire-Rescue will fan out with boots in hand at locations throughout the county. They will be collecting during three consecutive…

Applications are due Aug. 19 for the next Gwinnett County Police Department Citizens Police Academy. Participants will learn about animal welfare and enforcement, crime scene investigations, criminal investigations, firearms, SWAT, traffic enforcement, and vehicle pullovers —    all information to share with family, friends, and neighbors. The Citizens Police Academy also offers an alumni program so residents can remain involved with the Police Department. If you are interested in participating, visit www.gwinnettcpa.com to get an application. For more information about the Citizens Police Academy, email CitizenPoliceAcademy@gwinnettcounty.com.

State Sen. Gloria Butler (D – Stone Mountain) will host a town hall meeting Wednesday, Aug. 17, 6 to 8 p.m., at Berean Christian Church, 2201 Young Road, Stone Mountain. Butler will provide a legislative overview of Opportunity School Districts and their potential effects on DeKalb County. The meeting will include a panel discussion featuring local leaders in the field of education.

The DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office is hosting its second series of Tax Bill seminars. The “Understanding Your Tax Bill” seminar hosted by the Hartwood Estates HOA will be held on Thursday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m., at the DeKalb Community Achievement Center, 4522 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. The Bruce Street Senior Center will host a seminar on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 10 .am. , at 2584 Bruce St., Lithonia. Attend either seminar for an in-depth look at how property taxes are calculated and a detailed explanation of your tax bill. The seminars are open to the community. Feel free to bring…

Hundreds of supporters held a prayer vigil on Sunday, Aug. 7, to remember Southwest DeKalb High School’s head football coach, Michael Tanks. The popular coach passed away Aug. 3, 10 days following a massive stroke. He was 48. Mr. Tanks is a Southwest DeKalb alumnus who played for the school’s legendary Coach Buck Godfrey in 1983-84 as a linebacker and went on to become an All-America center at Florida State University in 1989. Mr. Tanks took the reigns from Godfrey as Southwest’s head coach in 2013. The Panthers were 4-6 in 2015. The funeral service for Mr. Tanks will be…

The DeKalb County School District will host two public input meetings for the Secondary School Facility Planning and Feasibility Study for middle schools and high schools. Staff will present recommendations for middle and high school feeder patterns, re-clustering attendance areas, additions to schools and new/replacement schools. Community feedback from these meetings and an online survey will be incorporated into the 2017-2022 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) list later this Fall. The recommendations to be presented at these meetings will be available online e on Tuesday, Aug. 23, starting at noon: http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/secondaryschoolfacilitystudy The meetings will be held at: Clarkston…

Six arrests have been made in connection with the shooting death of 15-year-old Keiara Palmer, who was killed in a hail of gunfire on Aug. 3. Authorities said today the arrests were made after a joint investigation by the DeKalb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Section, Gang and Intelligence Unit, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Squad and the U.S. Marshalls joined forces in the investigation and apprehension. Two juveniles and four adults have been apprehended: 17-year-old Roderick Harris, 22-year-old Michael Miller, 18-year-old Sharod Jackson and 18-year-old Roderick Jackson are in custody and charged with Felony Murder, two counts of Aggravated Assault…