Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb County Board of Health is seeking 20 county youths and 15 adults who are active social media users to help spread healthy messages to their friends and family. “To be more efficient in sharing messages with the public about the importance of healthy lifestyles, we need those who are already on social media to help amplify the stories,” said Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford, District Health Director/CEO of the Board of Health.  “The viral network will be a way for participants to make a difference in the lives of those they care about just by furthering their social media…

DeKalb County students returned to school today and several had a chance to hear from DeKalb County Schools Superintendent R. Stephen Green. Green announced during his stop at Sagamore Hills Elementary School has earned the distinction as the only school in Georgia to receive dual accreditation from the State of Georgia fand AdvancED or the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program. The district is the state leader in STEM certification with 12 certified schools. STEM is an interdisciplinary, collaborative learning approach that is based on problem solving. There are 98 District schools that have STEM programs in their curriculum. Sagamore…

The DeKalb County 911 Communications Department is seeking qualified applicants to join its communications team. Ten E911 Communication Officer I positions are currently open. Interested candidates can apply during a five-day period beginning Monday, Aug. 8, and closing Friday, Aug. 12. All applicants must submit and complete the online application listed in the “job opportunities” section on the county website: dekalbcountyga.gov. All candidates must meet minimum requirements: At lease 18 years of age S. Citizen High school diploma or GED Applicants must successfully pass a computer skills test (keyboarding, data entry, listening and prioritization, pass a background investigation and complete…

CONYERS – The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) welcomes the public to attend its next Strategic Planning session on Aug. 18. The meeting will be at 10 a.m. at the Government Annex Building, Lobby B, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. Discussion topics planned include determining short, medium and long-range priorities, reviewing survey results, considering cost levels for priorities, and identifying any overlaps with other local governments. Staff members of the Atlanta Regional Commission have been invited to attend to help facilitate the discussion. For more information, contact Post II Commissioner Doreen Williams at 770-278-7008 or doreen.williams@rockdalecountyga.gov.

CONYERS–The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) has announced its intention to increase the property taxes it will levy this year by 4.09 percent over the amount that would be generated by the 2016 roll-back rate, as defined by state law, for the County’s maintenance and operations (M&O). The proposed County M&O millage rate is 20.19, the same as last year’s rate. Based on a formula the State outlined, Rockdale County’s rollback rate for 2016 is 19.4 mills. Each year, the Tax Assessor is required to review the assessed value of property in the County for tax purposes. When the…

  The funeral service for SWD high School football coach Michael Tanks will be held Aug. 13, 11 a.m., St. Philip AME Church, 240 Candler Road, Atlanta. Mr. Tanks passed away Aug. 3, 10 days following a massive stroke. He was 48. Students, supporters and members of his family held a prayer vigil on Sunday, Aug. 7, at SWD High School. The vigil was attended by hundreds. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -…

DeKalb County is continuing its campaign to wipe out blight, taking a tougher stance on code enforcement and utilizing the court system to clean up problem properties. Interim CEO Lee May assisted in the demolition on Aug. 4 of a fire-damaged, vacant home on Walnut Ridge Court in Stone Mountain. The demolition of the property is the result of collaborative efforts of the DeKalb County’s Code Enforcement Division and Legal, Community Development and Sanitation departments. “This demolition shows DeKalb County’s commitment to address blight in our communities in order to make DeKalb a better place to live, work and play,”…

Musician JFly and his How BIG Is Your Dream?! Foundation will provide entertainment during DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May’s seventh Annual DeKalb Family Fun Day on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2-7 p.m., at Bransby Outdoor YMCA at Rock Chapel, 1185 Rock Chapel Road, Lithonia. This event is free and open to the public. Interim CEO May, DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs and JFly are partnering to host the fun-filled family event, which also will provide local students with 500 book bags filled with school supplies. “Families will have the opportunity to enjoy the summer one…

A 21-year-old Decatur man wanted by DeKalb County Police since 2014 on various charges was apprehended Aug. 1 by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit after he crashed his vehicle while trying to flee deputies. Deraus Bernard Jeffery was temporarily hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries sustained when he ran his vehicle into a utility pole near Belvedere Plaza on Memorial Drive after deputies tried to pull him over.  Warrants stemming from earlier year incidents had been issued for Jeffery on two charges of felony aggravated assault with a weapon, two charges of misdemeanor family violence battery and four charges…

The 24 year-old Avondale Estates armed robbery suspect who boasted on social media about his ability to elude law enforcement authorities has been arrested. William Jalvon McLeod of Decatur was located and apprehended Aug. 3 by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit working with the U.S. Marshals and the DeKalb County Police Department. On July 26, 2016, DeKalb police issued a warrant charging McLeod with obstruction when he allegedly refused to comply with officers and ran from the scene as they attempted to arrest him on charges stemming from an incident in September 2015 in which he was…