Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May and members of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners toured several locations throughout the county on Aug. 2 to promote crime prevention initiatives during National Night Out, observed in communities across the nation. “National Night Out is a great way to promote partnerships between communities and law enforcement to make DeKalb County a safe place to live, work and play,” said May. May kicked off National Night Out in the parking lot of the Gallery at South DeKalb in Decatur with nearly 30 communities represented at the event, which ran from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.…

Neighbors in the Hidden Hills community in Stone Mountain came together for a cookout, fellowship and fun recently at Biffle Park. The Hidden Hills Homeowners Association’s “Picnic in the Park” Day offered music with a DJ, dancing with the young and young at heart showing one another some moves, bicycling for teens and other activities. The HOA hosts three or four events per year including Neighbor Day and outdoor movie, organizers say. State Rep. Earnest “Coach” Williams, who lives in Hidden Hills, was among the residents who attended the “Picnic in the Park” Day.

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) congratulates the 130 students in the district recently named 2016 Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars for their outstanding performance on the 2016 exams. Each year, thousands of high school students across the world take AP exams. The College Board recognizes the hard work of top students through the awarding of several distinctions: AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, AP Scholar with Distinction, and National AP Scholar. Three RCPS students received the prestigious honor of being named National AP Scholars: Caira Anderson, Matthew Le, and Julia Long. These three students, all of whom recently graduated from the…

DeKalb County Board of Health centers will host Farmers Markets for WIC recipients on Aug. 18 and Aug. 19, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Tucker WIC facility, 4394 Hugh Howell Road (located in the Tucker Station shopping center). To make an appointment, call 404-508-7777. The clinic’s phone number is 678-791-0016. On Aug. 25 and Aug. 26, Farmers Markets for WIC recipients will be held at: North DeKalb Health Center, 3807 Clairmont Road, Chamblee 770-454-1144 East DeKalb Health Center at 2277 S. Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road in Lithonia 770-484-2600. Clifton Springs Health Center at 3110 Clifton Springs Road in Decatur…

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that Georgia-lensed feature film and television productions generated an economic impact of more than $7 billion during fiscal year 2016. The 245 feature film and television productions shot in Georgia represent $2.02 billion in direct spending in the state. “Georgia’s film industry provides a significant impact on our state’s economy, employing thousands of Georgians while developing infrastructure and boosting small businesses,” said Deal “The film industry has created a home in Georgia, and I am committed to retaining this relationship by constructing a strong, film-ready workforce that will continue to help the industry thrive.” As…

Big victory for Steve Bradshaw, Irvin Johnson in DeKalb, Oz Nesbitt and Clarence Cuthpert in Rockdale Vernon Jones wins House 91 Tonya P. Anderson headed for Senate 43 victory Voters overwhelmingly elected Steve Bradshaw as the new DeKalb County commissioner for District 4. Bradshaw defeated incumbent Sharon Barnes Sutton in the July 26 runoff with 5,853 votes (75.43 percent), according to early returns at the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office web site. Sutton received 1,907 votes (24.57). “I am overjoyed by this outpouring of support. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am,” Bradshaw told the standing…

Kendall Austin, 18, of Decatur, the youngest Georgia Delegate to represent the Democratic National Convention, was courted by major news outlets during his trip to the convention in Philadelphia. MSNBC, CNN, Time Magazine for Kids and PBS were among the media outlets that interviewed him to get his perspective. Many even sent company cars to pick him up from his hotel. “I am very excited to be here to represent the young Democrats and the younger generation in my community,” Austin told On Common Ground News. “It is very important that our voices are heard.” The grandson of Sandra Austin,…

Rockdale County officials on July 27 celebrated the completion of the Old Covington Highway widening and reconstruction project, which has been a community transportation goal since the 1990s. The project cost about $5 million. SPLOST funds covered the design of the project, while state funds covered site acquisition. Rockdale BOC Chairman Richard Oden, City of Conyers Mayor Randy Mills, Transportation Department Director Miguel Valentin and SPLOST Oversight Committee leadership spoke briefly during the ribbon cutting celebration. The new alternative route will provide relief for vehicles crossing State Route 20/138 through the heavily congested Dogwood Drive intersection. The section of Old…

Kristi Castlin, a 2016 track-and-field Olympian, spoke with youths on July 25 at the Hamilton Recreation Center about gun violence and fulfilling their dreams. Castlin, who is dedicating her Olympic bid in Rio to survivors of gun violence, is a victim of gun violence. When she was 13 years old, her father, who worked as the night manager at a Cobb County hotel, was shot and killed for $300 during a robbery. The case went unsolved for 15 years until a man was convicted in March 2016 for the murder. Castlin also experienced gun violence again as a freshman at…

The Lou Walker Senior Center (LWSC), located at 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia, is celebrating the reopening of its hair salon and barbershop. “At the Lou Walker Senior Center, we not only help seniors learn and stay active, we want to promote the importance of healthy hair, skin and nails,” said DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May. “We want to give seniors a total body experience.” The salon, which will be open to LWSC members and the public, will offer services according to the following schedule: Mondays, barber services; Tuesdays, nail and skin care, including manicures, facials, eyelashes and eyebrows; Wednesdays-Fridays, hair…