Author: On Common Ground News

Tucker Middle School teacher Christine Mayfield is calling on the community to lend a hand. Her students recently competed in the Georgia Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) state competition in March where 15 of them qualified to compete in Nationals. Now, they need the community’s help in raising $7,000 to compete in finals at the 2016 National Leadership Conference, which will be held July 3-7 in San Diego, California. They have less than a week before they lose their deposit and all the money they have raised so far. “We are raising money for our 2015-2016 regional…

David Manuel says hundreds of people have signed up to walk or run in the “I Am A Father” 5K event that he is hosting on June 18 in DeKalb County. The event, now in its second year, has grown from a small project to a mammoth event that will include a health fair with vendors providing free checkups, testing for HIV, wellness information and other resources. Manuel said people from all walks of life are participating. “Last year, we had 86 participants for the 5K. This year, we have over 600,” said Manuel, who is executive director of the…

James Lewis, who heads the N the Zone Motorcycle Club, says his group is doing a charity ride on Sunday, June 12, to help provide financial assistance to a 4-year-old girl who recently had a heart transplant. The group and the N the Zone Social Club for women—the Pearls—will meet up in the parking lot on the Macy’s side of the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia, at 1 p.m., to ride to Athens. Lewis said the 28 members of the club felt compelled to help when they learned about the child and her mother. They decided to make the ride…

The Rockdale NAACP awarded scholarships to three graduates from each of the county’s high schools. The organization presented each student with a $1,000 check at the NAACP’s June 6 general meeting, which was held at Macedonia Baptist Church in Conyers. The organization honored: Adaisha Pringle, who graduated from Salem High School and plans to attend Kennesaw State College and become a pediatrician. Dajalyn Collins, a Rockdale High School graduate who plans to major in business at Indiana University Lashae Williams, a Heritage High School graduate who plans to study criminal justice at Gordon State College. The students were…

Heard N. Dooley tried to rob a bank in Conyers, but he wasn’t on the run for long. The 20-year-old Covington man turned himself in after confessing to his parents what he had done on June 3. Dooley produced a note demanding cash at the counter window of the Best Bank inside the Kroger, 1745 Highway 138, Conyers. When the teller refused to hand over any money, Dooley continued to plead with him until he ultimately fled the location.  Dooley never presented a weapon. Escorted by his parents, Dooley turned himself in to law enforcement on June 4 at approximately…

Principals in the DeKalb County Schools District will interview for teacher openings for the 2016-2017 school year. The district’s Summer Certified Teacher Job Fair will be held Tuesday, June 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Central Office campus, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain. Interviews for middle and high school teachers will be conducted within the DECA High School at the Central Office campus. Centers and Special education interviews will be conducted in the DECA gym. Teachers for elementary schools will be interviewed within Elizabeth Andrews High School at the Central Office campus. Middle & High Grades Interviews…

  State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia) will host a focus group presentation on private investment on Tuesday, June 28, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in room 605 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building, Atlanta. The event will preview Kendrick’s 2017 legislative agenda on private investment policy with featured speakers Melanie Brandt, Association of Corporate Growth (ACG) Atlanta, Inc.; Adam Harrell, StartUp Atlanta; and Tino Mantella, Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). Discussion topics will include the metro Atlanta business ecosystem; proposed updates to the Georgia securities code; examination of Georgia’s angel tax credit; review of the Invest Georgia Exemption (IGE); and…

DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson will host a town hall meeting for District 5 residents to provide information on the Special Purpose Local Sales Tax (SPLOST). The meeting will be held on June 13, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia. Special guests will address the SPLOST issue, which will be on the ballot in the November general election. Speakers include Zachary Williams, DeKalb County Chief Operating Officer; Luz Borrero, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Development; Willie Lewis, member of DeKalb SPLOST Citzens Advisory Committee. For ore information about the meeting, contact…

It’s time to take your life back and live! The economy is recovering. How about you? Join financial education expert Doreen Carter for a personal financial management workshop on Saturday, June 18, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Lithonia Woman’s Club. In this interactive workshop, Carter will help you assess your current financial condition, show you how to create a plan to build wealth, and cover how to protect your assets. Carter will be joined by entrepreneur philanthropist Nicola Jackson. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. To register or for more information, e-mail doreen.carter@live.com.

There’s still time to apply for Gwinnett County Police Department’s first-ever summer Youth Police Academy. The application deadline is June 30. The academy gives teens interested in a career in law enforcement a behind-the-scenes look at the department. Participants will learn classroom instruction, team building, and character development and topics will include uniform patrol, criminal investigations, crime scene investigations, traffic stops, firearms safety, gangs, and narcotics awareness. The Youth Police Academy is scheduled for July 25-29 and will take place at the Gwinnett County Police Training Center located at 854 Winder Highway in Lawrenceville. There will be a maximum of 30 students…