Author: On Common Ground News

LITHONIA, GA – Sunday, January 15 Bishop Long, Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, died early Sunday morning after a long battle  with an aggressive form of cancer. First Lady Elder Vanessa Long, Bishop Long’s wife of 27 years issued the following statement in the wake of the mega church pastor’s death: “I am confidant through my belief in God that my husband is now resting in a better place. Although, his transition leaves a void for those of us who loved him dearly, we can celebrate and be happy for him, knowing he’s at peace.” Deeply committed…

Michael Thurmond, who officially took office Jan. 1, after a private swearing in was sworn in during a packed public ceremony this evening at the Maloof Auditorium in Decatur. He was joined by other newly elected county officials who also were sworn in. Thurmond promised “a new day in DeKalb County”, one in which blacks and whites, north and south would work together. Hear his speech here.

It’s campaign season in DeKalb County’s new city of Stonecrest and the candidates running for office are already stomping for votes. At the Jan. 12 meeting held by the Governor’s Commission on the City of Stonecrest, the volunteer group that is laying the groundwork for the new city, several of the candidates attended and were permitted to introduce themselves. The DeKalb Medical Auditorium where the meeting was held was prime ground for networking: The facility was packed with stakeholders. “We held the meeting to update residents on various issues, adopt resolutions, initiate activities of the Stonecrest Community Committee,…

Organizers in Rockdale County have reached a compromise concerning a celebration planned for the Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday. Josie Dean, who is spearheading the planning committee, had envisioned a daylong event that included a parade in Olde Town Conyers with Rockdale’s newly-elected Chairman Oz Nesbitt serving as the grand marshal, speeches and other activities. Dean didn’t anticipate the bureaucratic redtape she said she encountered from city and county officials who told her several off-duty police officers would be needed and even more planning to get them in place and pay them. Dean called a news conference to discuss…

DeKalb County Commissioners Kathie Gannon and Jeff Rader will serve as presiding officer and deputy presiding officer respectively. The Jan. 10 elections at the Board of Commissioners’ meeting ended a longstanding battle over the leadership positions, which were criticized by Gannon who had called for the positions to be shared by blacks and whites on the board. The seven-member Board of Commissioners elected Gannon 5-2. She received support from Commissioners Steve Bradshaw, Mereda Davis Johnson, Nancy Jester and Jeff Rader. Commissioners Gregory Adams and Larry Johnson cast the dissenting votes. Adams had nominated Johnson to continue as presiding officer…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), along with Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry will host “A Day of Resistance” on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Clarkston Community Center to protest the incoming Trump Administration and the GOP Congressional agenda. Joined by faith leaders, environmentalists, seniors, students and immigration reform supporters among others, Johnson and Terry will gather to support Bernie Sanders’ nationwide call to oppose the Republican budget, which calls for ending healthcare benefits for 30 million people, privatizing Medicare, making massive cuts in Medicaid, and at the same time giving tax breaks to the wealthy. The Clarkston Community…

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond will be the keynote speaker at the East Metro DeKalb Community Improvement District’s “State of the CID” meeting. The address will be held on Jan. 30, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., at the Community Achievement Center, 4522 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. There is no cost to attend, but registration is requested at wwweventbrite.com.

Rockdale County Government is seeking qualified volunteers to serve on the 2017 Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) Oversight Committee as the current SPLOST nears an end. Interested county residents must apply by Feb. 7. County Clerk Jennifer Rutledge will work with the Board of Commissioners to review applications. Those who are selected to serve will receive a notification letter by March 1. The voters of Rockdale approved the new SPLOST to fund transportation projects, public safety facilities, water resources and other needed improvements for the Conyers-Rockdale community. The 30-citizen committee of volunteers will meet quarterly to prioritize and oversee…

Jazz Duncan, a senior at the Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, has been named a semifinalist for the 2017 Coca-Cola Scholars Program. The program recognizes a diverse group of extraordinary high school seniors from around the nation who have demonstrated academic and civic excellence in their schools and communities. Duncan is among approximately 1,900 high school seniors who are in the running for 150 college scholarships worth $20,000 each. Semi-finalists are selected to advance as regional finalists based on academic excellence, leadership and service demonstrated in school and community activities. “The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation received nearly 86,000 applications…

To prepare students for top college admissions and success, Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is pleased to announce the following opportunities for students hone their ACT and SAT testing skills through ongoing preparation programs. Free ACT Preparation RCPS students will have the option to attend two different free ACT workshop series this semester. All workshops will be held Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 Culpepper Dr., Conyers. Register at https://form.jotform.com/70043990766159 or www.rockdaleschools.org/ACTprep Please use the list below to help your child decide which ACT Workshop series to attend (Series 1 or Series 2): …