Author: On Common Ground News

Just call Julius Lee the FitBit King. It has been three years since Lee met his goal of climbing Stone Mountain 20 times in one day, a feat that took him nearly all day and years of climbing to achieve. In April, the Conyers resident set a new record landing him first place in the Top 500 FitBit World Rankings, a monthly competition where FitBit wearers compete with one another in several categories of distance such as steps, floors and miles. The Detroit native said that he purchased a FitBit for himself and his wife as Christmas gifts after…

Marketing Director Vickie Elisa is retiring after a 30-year career with the DeKalb County Board of Health. Elisa, who has worked in health communication, social marketing and health program development, is an Emmy, Telly and Addy-award winning television producer. A celebration honoring her work and advocacy in the community will be held May 25, 1:30 p.m., at the DeKalb County Board of Health, Richardson Health Center, 445 Winn Way, Decatur (second floor). A champion for women’s health and financial education, Elisa worked on First Lady Michelle Obama’s 2011-2013 Let’s Move Campaign for DeKalb County and served as a White House Community…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is proud to announce two seniors, Michaela Finlayson of Heritage High School and Rajuan Nelson of Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, were recently named Gates Millennium Scholars. They are among 1,000 scholars chosen this year out of 53,000 applicants in the rigorous scholarship program, which fully funds outstanding students from low-income families pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at accredited colleges or universities. Both are in the top 10 academically in their class and have also won the RCPS Superintendent’s Academic Award for the past several years. Nelson grew up in Conyers, attending…

The head of a Georgia gang has been charged with ordering a retaliation hit from prison that killed a 9-month-old boy in DeKalb County. The baby’s mother, grandmother and a family friend were all shot and wounded in their home as they tried to protect little KenDarious Edwards, Jr. The three women survived, but the child was killed. DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James said Kenneth Eric Jackson, the head of the Sex Money Murder Bloods in Georgia, used a contraband mobile phone while incarcerated at Autry State Prison to order the hit. The murder was in retaliation for…

DeKalb County Sheriff Jeff Mann hosted an annual program on  May 12,to honor some 80 volunteers who provide services to inmates of the DeKalb County Jail and their families. “Our volunteers are chaplains from all faiths, counselors and educators who give unselfishly of their time and talents to help inmates cope with being incarcerated while they await their court dates,” said Mann. “We are truly fortunate to have them as members of our team because of the special services they provide and the cost-savings their participation represents for the Sheriff’s Office.”

Spring is here, which means fresh fruits, vegetables and the Mobile Farmers Market.  DeKalb County, along with DeKalb County Extension and the DeKalb County Board of Health, announce the kick-off of the 2016 Mobile Farmers Market season. A festival-style event will kic -off the new Mobile Farmers Market season on Thursday, May 26, noon to 5 p.m., 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur.  Chefs will be on site providing food demonstrations and samples.  All produce is 50 percent off during the event. BOOM 102.9 and Praise 102.5 will be broadcasting live with DJ Nabs…

Suzanne Shank, chairwoman, CEO and co-founder of Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., L.L.C., one of the nation’s top municipal bond underwriting firms, will be the 2016 spring commencement speaker at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. The ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m., will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young International Boulevard, NW, Atlanta. . The ceremony will be conducted in the Georgia Ballroom. Shank is the first African-American female to lead a publicly-traded financial institution, and is in high demand as a financial expert who is well-respected on Wall Street.  As a founding partner…

The Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) has named Rockdale County Chairman Richard Oden the recipient of the 2016 Emory Greene Leadership Award. Each year, ACCG presents leadership awards to recognize outstanding public service and leadership in county government. The Emory Greene Leadership Award is the highest honor a commissioner can receive from the ACCG’s awards program. Oden accepted the award this month at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center during the 2016 ACCG Annual Conference. “ACCG is proud to present Chairman Oden with this year’s Emory Greene Leadership Award,” said ACCG Executive Director Ross King. “It…

By Valerie J. Morgan DeKalb County won’t be operating its summer program this year at the Redan Recreation Center, 1839 Phillips Road, Lithonia. Instead, the Boys & Girls Club will run the summer program for children. County officials held an emergency meeting on May 16 to discuss the program with community residents after DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson said she received several questions from constituents. Johnson said she held the meeting so residents could get clarity. DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May, who spoke at the meeting at Johnson’s request, told the crowd of residents who attended that the…

By Valerie J. Morgan DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson has filed a lawsuit asking the court to stop the May 24 special election to fill the unexpired term of the tax commissioner’s seat, On Common Ground News has learned. Johnson alleges in the suit, filed on Thursday in the Superior Court of DeKalb, that the ballot unconstitutionally strips him of his title as the “incumbent” in the race. Currently, Johnson, a Democrat, is identified on the ballot by his name, the same as his two Democratic challengers: Susannah Scott and Stan Watson. Johnson, who was serving…