Author: On Common Ground News

  The DeKalb Democratic Party’s GoTV Committee is seeking volunteers to assist with its “Get Out TheVote” phone bank calls. Volunteers can choose from several dates that are scheduled during July and August at Hillandale Medical Center, 2801 DeKalb Parkway, Lithonia. Phone banks will take place in the Private Dining Room on the first floor in the Main Hospital building: July 18, 6 to 9 p.m. July 25,6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 1, 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 8, 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 15, 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 22, 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 29, 6 to 9…

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp is reminding runoff election voters that it is illegal to take pictures of a ballot or voting equipment. In previous elections, voters have posted “ballot selfies” on social media in violation of state law. Georgia law prohibits photography in a polling place when voting is under way, unless the poll manager gives approval for limited media coverage. “If you are going to post about your voting experience on social media, I encourage you to post your peach voting sticker, not your ballot,” said Kemp. “Georgia law intends to preserve secrecy of the ballot for…

Rockdale Sheriff’s Back-to-School Fun Day set July 23 The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is hosting the Sheriff’s Back-to-School Fun Day in partnership with several churches, businesses and the community at large on Saturday, July 23, noon to 4 p.m. The free event, which will highlight safety, will be held at the Rockdale County Government Annex, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. Parents are invited to bring the kids out for a cookout, raffle for bike giveaways, music, games, jump Houses and water Slides, a cookout, cotton candy and snow cones. The event also will provide families and the community with information and…

The two lawn areas east of the Community Bandstand in downtown Decatur are being refurbished. Pedestrian traffic has worn the lawns at the Old Courthouse on the Square, compacting the roots of the grass and preventing the lawns from growing, officials said. The City of Decatur has hired Plants, a local company, to install a new pervious system that allows the grass to grow through it while at the same time reducing the stress on the roots. The project began July 13. The construction area will be fenced off during the two-week installation project and the two grassy areas will…

The latest news of two police-involved shootings that left two black men dead—one in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the other in Falcon Heights, Minnesota—has prompted protests, anger and cries for justice from across the nation. Alton Sterling, 37, was fatally shot by police outside a Baton Rouge convenience store on July 5. Police say two officers responded to an anonymous caller who said a man selling CDs outside the store threatened him with a gun. After police arrived, a struggle ensued and Sterling was shot. The shooting sparked protests by angry residents in Baton Rouge and prompted the U.S. Justice Department…

DECATUR – DeKalb County’s public safety director will discuss community-oriented policing during a workshop during the seventh annual DeKalb Neighborhood Summit which has a theme of “Working Together for a Cleaner and Safer DeKalb.” Dr. Cedric Alexander, DeKalb’s deputy chief operating officer for public safety, will participate in a panel discussion and a workshop during the event on Saturday, July 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Greater Travelers Rest Church—House of Hope, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur, GA 30034. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. “We are fortunate to have a nationally-recognized law enforcement expert…

Rockdale County Chairman Richard Oden is inviting the public to join him for the “Community-Oriented Policing Town Hall” on Tuesday, July 12, 6 to 7 p.m. in the county’s Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers. The town hall will provide an opportunity for government and law enforcement leadership together to dialogue with the community not only about police-involved shootings across the nation, but to discuss positive solutions to work on community-oriented policing locally. “As I reflect on what is happening across our country with respect to citizens being shot and killed by law enforcement officers, I felt deeply that it…

DeKalb County’s oldest African American families, which include the bloodlines of comedian/actor Chris Tucker, Warren Moon and Willie Gault, will be celebrated at a family reunion hosted by the Flat Rock Archives in unincorporated Lithonia on July 22-23. “All three of them (Tucker, Moon and Gault) are coming to the reunion,” said Johnny Waits, who is a cousin of Tucker and president of the Flat Rock Archives. “We’re very excited about recognizing our family members. We’re hoping to make the reunion a bi-annual event.” Although the reunion will be private, Waits said he wants the community at large to know…

Atlanta will become a sea of pink and green as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA) sisters from around the world converge on the city for its international convention July 9-16. More than 22,000 members of the organization, known for their signature pink and green attire, are expected during the organization’s 67th Boule, which will honor the late Dr. Mary Shy Scott, a prominent educator and motivational speaker who served as the sorority’s 23rd international president. Members from as far away as Germany, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, South Africa and Dubai are expected to attend the convention, which will be held…

Atlanta Field Day for adults: relay races, scavenger hunts and other wacky fun The Atlanta Sport and Social Club and Creative Loafing will team up to present Atlanta Field Day on Saturday, July 16, 12 – 5:30 p.m., at the Historic Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta. Bring your team of up to eight people for a day of fun in the sun and a chance to compete for the King of the Field title. Leave the kids at home – this field day is for grownups. This year’s event will feature Field Day classics such as tug of war, a…