Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb announces Thanksgiving residential sanitation collection schedule   In observance of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 24, garbage, recyclable materials and yard trimmings collection for residential customers will be based on a revised collection schedule.   The revised schedule is as follows: Monday, Nov. 21 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Monday, Nov. 21, will be serviced on that day. Tuesday, Nov. 22 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, Nov. 22, will be serviced on that day. Wednesday, Nov. 23 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, Nov. 23, will…

DeKalb County business owners, Wendell and Isis Robinson, recently got the surprise of a lifetime when executive producer Oprah Winfrey walked through the doors of their Decatur bar, Juicy’s Joint. Winfrey visited the restaurant on Nov. 10 to film an episode for season 2 of Greenleaf, the television drama series that follows the lives of the Greenleaf family and their corrupt mega church in Memphis, Tennessee. The show, which premiered June 2016, was written by Craig Wright and features a star-studded cast including Keith David, Lynn Whitfield, and Merle Dandridge. Robinson said he and his wife were thrilled to meet…

The Rockdale County Public Schools theater community has been shining in the spotlight recently with region titles and state honors in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) One Act competitions. Heritage High School (HHS) won second place in the state One Act Class AAAAAA competition on Nov. 12 for their performance of August Wilson’s “Fences.” HHS sophomore Christian Anderson was named Best Actor in the state for Class AAAAAA. Earlier this year, HHS was selected as the Region 3-AAAAAA One Act Champion and also won Best Ensemble Cast and Crew, Best Actor-Ramone Nelson, Best Actress – Cortlyn Mays, and Best…

Vernon Jones was among the newly-elected state legislators who attended orientation on Nov. 15 at the state capitol in preparation for the 2017 General Assembly. Although Jones, a Democrat, was elected on Nov. 8 over a Republican candidate to represent House District 91, which includes parts of DeKalb and Rockdale counties, he is not a brand new state legislator. Before serving two terms as DeKalb’s CEO from 2001 to 2008, Jones served as a state lawmaker from 1993 to 2000. “I’m excited to be back. I have the experience and I understand how to effect change. I’m looking forward to…

It took a small army of volunteers to unload the trucks filled with food, beverages and household products for the drive-through mobile pantry in Rockdale County, a week before Thanksgiving Day. The grocery bags and boxes that volunteers assembled for those in need contained not only food, but in some cases, cough drops and other medicines and small gifts such as headsets. The free event was hosted by the Resource Center for Community Action, Inc. (RCCA) at the county annex parking lot, which is located at 1400 Parker Road in Conyers. The food was given out on a first-come, first-served…

 DeKalb County residents wishing to dispute their water bills now have additional times and locations throughout the county to begin the dispute process. In September, DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May issued a moratorium through the end of 2016 on the disconnection of residential water accounts that have been contested through the Utility Customer Operations Center’s Customer Assurance Team. “By adding these additional sites and times, we are providing convenient locations to accommodate varying schedules to help address customers concerns about their water bills,” Interim CEO May said. At these locations, water customers will be able to speak with county representatives…

A runoff will be held on Dec. 6 in the special election for Commission District 7. Gregory Adams and Randal Mangham are in the race. Candidate Diane Adoma is contesting the race and has asked for a recount. Adoma who garnered 15.39 percent of the vote, during the Nov. 8 election, was within a one percent margin of Mangham, who qualified for the District 7 runoff with 16.27 percent. Early voting will begin on Monday, Nov. 28, and continue through Friday, Dec. 2. All early voting will be held at the main office of the Voter Registration and Elections office…

With the approval of the incorporation of the city of Stonecrest, the new municipality must now elect a mayor and city council. In accordance with the Georgia election calendar, March 21, 2017, is the earliest date for holding that election. The Board of Registration and Elections will schedule the election and set the dates for qualifying at the board’s Jan. 12, 2017 meeting. Precinct cards will be mailed to voters within the city to inform them of their council districts.

In an effort to help reduce water pollution, Rockdale Recreation and Maintenance and Rockdale Water Resources (RWR) have partnered to install pet waste disposal units in parks that border Rockdale’s waterways. Recreation and Maintenance and RWR are encouraging citizens to use these pet waste disposal units installed recently at Black Shoals Park, Daniels Bridge Trailhead and Lakeview Park. According to the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, studies show that pet waste in urban areas is a “significant contributor of pathogens and nutrients” to the watershed. Pet waste that is not properly disposed of can be carried by rain runoff…

Farmers Insurance is conducting a suit drive for male and female military veterans. Darold Honore, who recently opened a Farmers Insurance office in the city of Lithonia, says gently-used suits are being accepted at his office for the drive. “The suits will be given to veterans who need attire to search for jobs. Over 1 million military personnel will be making the transition to the civilian workforce and we are asking the community to join Farmers Insurance in donating clean, gently-used suits for them,” said Honore. Honore’s new office is located at 6844 Main St., Lithonia. For more information, call…