Author: On Common Ground News

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…

DeKalb County Police are investigating the abduction and sexual assault of a 5-year-old female.  On July 22, at approximately 4:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of a child wandering alone at the Value Mall at 5616 Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain.  The child reported that she had been picked up by an unknown male at the Clifton Glen Apartments and later dropped off on Memorial Drive.  The child was transported to the hospital for evaluation where it was discovered she had been sexually assaulted. While officers were out with the child, a call was received of a kidnapping at…

ATLANTA 27th Annual National Poetry Slam Festival ribbon cutting The community, business leaders and sponsors are invited to attend the ribbon cutting hosted by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and the reception to follow hosted by the Decatur Arts Alliance Monday, Aug. 1, 7 p.m., at 115 Sycamore St., Decatur. The National Poetry Slam festival ribbon cutting will celebrate the one-week national art, music and poetry slam being hosted in Decatur Aug. 1 – 6. The weeklong event will welcome more than 300 poets from across the nation from August 1 to August 6 at various places around Downtown Decatur…

The DeKalb NAACP branch was honored at the 2016 National Convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, held July 14-20 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The branch received the 2016 Lucille Black Award for having the highest total membership production in the past year. Of the more than 2,000 units nationwide, the DeKalb branch had the second-highest number of new members in 2015. Students in the DeKalb NAACP also were honored at the convention. Two youths brought home medals from the NAACP ACT-SO competitions. George Olverson IV received the silver medal in Science Technology Engineering Math- Medicine and…

South DeKalb teens are invited to come out and add their voices to an ongoing conversation that will take place on Saturday, Aug. 6, 9 a.m. to noon, at the South Precinct outside the Gallery at South DeKalb Mall. Residents are urged to invite teens who will benefit from having a positive role model in their lives. Major K.D. Johnson, South Precinct Commander, will present speakers who will offer encouragement and inspiration. Lunch will be provided.