Author: On Common Ground News

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…

Atlanta’s Benjamin E. Mays High School won the Prom Safety contest sponsored by Fulton County Youth Commissioners, V103, Capitol Records Music Group, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and A-Tow. The youth commissioners decided that Mays had the best prom safety video compared to six other competing schools. The winning video was broadcast at Mays to encourage safety during prom season. Students enjoyed a celebrity performance by “Silento,” A V-103 DJ and High Definition Sound System and a live radio broadcast by V-103 at their May 6 prom with Celebrity Host “Greg Street” along with free transportation to and from…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced the nominations of 23 Fourth District students to the United States Military Service Academies for the class of 2020, including the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, the U.S.  Military Academy in West Point, NY, the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. In advance of this round of nominations, staff from Johnson’s office held more than 24 information sessions at schools throughout the district, which includes parts of DeKalb, Newton and Gwinnett counties and all of Rockdale County. “Putting forward nominations of Fourth…

Catch a flick on the biggest screen in town, Fernbank’s IMAX® Theatre, on Fridays,  767 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta. Fernbank’s Martinis & IMAX® is one of the most unique “culture and cocktail” opportunities in Atlanta. Guests enjoy special cocktail menus, small plates, live entertainment, dancing and a chance to see a film on the biggest screen in town, Fernbank’s IMAX® Theatre. This popular event, the first of its kind in Atlanta, is held every Friday (excluding holiday weekends) from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Live entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets online at www.fernbankmuseum.org or by calling 404-929-6400. Please…

The former East Mountain Studios, 2030 East Park Drive, Conyers, is now Eastside Stageworks. John Raulet, part owner in Mailing Avenue Stageworks and Westside Stageworks, assembled a group of local investors to purchase the property. The group pre-leased the studios to a major company already filming in the area and renamed the building. “When we were presented with an opportunity to add a Conyers facility into the Stageworks family, we jumped at the chance,” said Raulet. “There were two key factors that made this decision very easy: One, a very healthy industrial real estate market, and two, a…

The City of Lithonia will soon get two roadway markers so tourists and others will know of its role in the Civil War. And State Rep. Doreen Carter says she’s happy she’ll be able to walk about a block from her house and see one of the signs that designate Lithonia as part of the Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails. “This is really exciting for me. We’ve heard stories that Sherman’s troops camped in my backyard,” said Carter.  “It will provide a great economic boost to the areas with the increase in history tours throughout the state. It puts Lithonia…

DeKalb County has launched its Keep DeKalb Beautiful Beautification Unit, a one-stop shop that will include code enforcement, the county’s Foreclosure/Vacant Property Registry, and mowing and herbicide crews. Its mission: to give DeKalb a beautiful new image. The county officially opened the unit on May 12 at 1807 Candler Road in Decatur. The building, which had been vacant for years, formerly served as DeKalb’s office for Community Development. Marcus Kellum, the county’s former code enforcement administrator, was announced as the new director of the beautification unit. “We will have 190 people in this unit. That’s a lot. Not only is…

James Burnett is redeveloping the long-neglected Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in DeKalb County. The Stone Mountain businessman purchased the Memorial Drive property last December and now he has embarked on a project to pay homage to the late rapper icon and his mother, Afeni Shakur, who died of a suspected heart attack on May 2. She was 69. “Since Afeni’s death, we have had so many people stop by to visit, including media who want to know what will happen to the property,” Burnett said. “They are excited to see the work that is going on. The…