Author: On Common Ground News

Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Richard Dunn, deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB), will transition to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as director of the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) effective June 15. Lauren Curry, chief of staff for the Georgia Emergency Management/Homeland Security Agency (GEMHSA), will become the deputy director of EPD. Deal will recommend Dunn and Curry to the DNR board for approval at its scheduled meeting in June. “Rick and Lauren are highly skilled and qualified for these positions at EPD,” said Deal. “They bring with them a broad range of…

DeKalb County school leaders thanked voters for continuing the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST) to raise an estimated $500 million to fund school improvement projects in the county. Voters approved the measure by 71 percent during the May 24 special election. The approval means the county will begin the sales tax extension in 2017 and collect money for the school district through 2022. DeKalb Schools Superintendent Stephen Green and school leaders held a news conference at Cross Keys High School the day after voters passed E-SPLOST to celebrate the good news. “We’re ready to move forward, aggressively…

Conyers Police are seeking a black male suspect who robbed the Waffle House, 1174 West Ave., Conyers. The robbery took place on Wednesday, May 18, 2:30 a.m. The suspect entered the restaurant and robbed the front register of cash.  The suspect was seen in a black Chrysler 300 just prior to the robbery.  He was wearing a Brooklyn Fubu hooded jacket. Any information leading to the arrest of the suspect may result in a cash reward up to $2,000. Tipsters will remain anonymous and are asked to contact Crime Stoppers with any information. Call: 404-577-TIPS (8477) Text: CSA + your…

Those who are seeking to purchase their first home or those who have a home but need additional resources are invited to attend an upcoming resource fair. Morningstar Urban Development Inc. will present its annual Super Saturday Homebuyer Education Workshop and Resource Fair on June 4, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at New Life Church, 3592 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur. The free event is open to everyone including seniors and veterans. Homebuyer education, financial information and other resources will be offered. Participants will also have the chance to schedule one-on-one counseling sessions from HUD approved counselors and receive a certificate…

A team of neighborhood leaders from Atlanta, Clayton, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton Gwinnett and Rockdale counties have been working with the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (ANDP) on strategies for strengthening neighborhoods slow to recover from the housing crisis. ANDP and the team of leaders will present “Neighbors Together,” a day of training designed to empower and reignite hope in communities on Saturday, June 11, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Atlanta Metropolitan State College Conference Center, 1630 Metropolitan Parkway S.W., Atlanta. “Neighbors Together” is part of Neighbor Works America Week 2016. Nathaniel Smith, CEO of the Partnership for Southern Equity,…

Updated numbers for some of the key DeKalb County Races (192 of 192 precincts reporting): CEO: Michael Thurmond 29,516 Connie Stokes 11,088 Sheriff: Jeff Mann (Incumbent) 21,985 Geraldine Champion 7,013 District Attorney: Sherry Boston 25,564 Robert James(Incumbent) 15,440 Tax Commissioner: Irvin Johnson 15,451 Susannah Scott 14,006 Stan Watson 10,291 DeKalb County Commissioner, District 4 Sharon Barnes Sutton 3,565 S. Bradshaw 3,841 Lance Hammonds 641 DeKalb County Commissioner, District 6 Kathie Gannon, 13,911 Warren Mosby 3,258

The Walk of Heroes Veterans War Memorial will host its annual Memorial Day program on May 30, 11 a.m. to noon, at the memorial park, 3001 Black Shoals Road, Conyers. The keynote speaker will be James Blaylock, Viet Nam War combat wounded marine and past state and national commander Military Order of the Purple Heart. There will be an afternoon program that will include a patriotic concert performed by Rejoys from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m. Also, certificates of honor will be presented during the afternoon program to Viet Nam war veterans who served from June 1, 1954 to May 15,…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from his alma mater, Clark Atlanta University, during the university’s 27th Commencement on May 16. Johnson graduated from then Clark College in 1976 with a degree in Political Science. He went on to Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas, for his law degree in 1979. This is his first honorary degree. “This is one of the highlights of my professional and public life,” said Johnson, a former defense attorney, judge and county commissioner. Johnson has served in Congress representing Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District since 2007. “To…

The federally-funded Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) will again be available to children 18 and under from low income families through several sites statewide.. . Over one million of Georgia’s school-aged children are eligible for free or reduced lunch when school is in session. The summer food program provides free meals in low-income areas during the summer months when students are out of school and may not have access to well-balanced meals. To locate a site where children can access nutritious, free meals, visit the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) at http://www.decal.ga.gov/Nutrition/Search.aspx. Use the search function (zip…

Just call Julius Lee the FitBit King. It has been three years since Lee met his goal of climbing Stone Mountain 20 times in one day, a feat that took him nearly all day and years of climbing to achieve. In April, the Conyers resident set a new record landing him first place in the Top 500 FitBit World Rankings, a monthly competition where FitBit wearers compete with one another in several categories of distance such as steps, floors and miles. The Detroit native said that he purchased a FitBit for himself and his wife as Christmas gifts after…