Author: On Common Ground News

The two lawn areas east of the Community Bandstand in downtown Decatur are being refurbished. Pedestrian traffic has worn the lawns at the Old Courthouse on the Square, compacting the roots of the grass and preventing the lawns from growing, officials said. The City of Decatur has hired Plants, a local company, to install a new pervious system that allows the grass to grow through it while at the same time reducing the stress on the roots. The project began July 13. The construction area will be fenced off during the two-week installation project and the two grassy areas will…

The latest news of two police-involved shootings that left two black men dead—one in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the other in Falcon Heights, Minnesota—has prompted protests, anger and cries for justice from across the nation. Alton Sterling, 37, was fatally shot by police outside a Baton Rouge convenience store on July 5. Police say two officers responded to an anonymous caller who said a man selling CDs outside the store threatened him with a gun. After police arrived, a struggle ensued and Sterling was shot. The shooting sparked protests by angry residents in Baton Rouge and prompted the U.S. Justice Department…

DECATUR – DeKalb County’s public safety director will discuss community-oriented policing during a workshop during the seventh annual DeKalb Neighborhood Summit which has a theme of “Working Together for a Cleaner and Safer DeKalb.” Dr. Cedric Alexander, DeKalb’s deputy chief operating officer for public safety, will participate in a panel discussion and a workshop during the event on Saturday, July 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Greater Travelers Rest Church—House of Hope, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur, GA 30034. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. “We are fortunate to have a nationally-recognized law enforcement expert…

Rockdale County Chairman Richard Oden is inviting the public to join him for the “Community-Oriented Policing Town Hall” on Tuesday, July 12, 6 to 7 p.m. in the county’s Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers. The town hall will provide an opportunity for government and law enforcement leadership together to dialogue with the community not only about police-involved shootings across the nation, but to discuss positive solutions to work on community-oriented policing locally. “As I reflect on what is happening across our country with respect to citizens being shot and killed by law enforcement officers, I felt deeply that it…

DeKalb County’s oldest African American families, which include the bloodlines of comedian/actor Chris Tucker, Warren Moon and Willie Gault, will be celebrated at a family reunion hosted by the Flat Rock Archives in unincorporated Lithonia on July 22-23. “All three of them (Tucker, Moon and Gault) are coming to the reunion,” said Johnny Waits, who is a cousin of Tucker and president of the Flat Rock Archives. “We’re very excited about recognizing our family members. We’re hoping to make the reunion a bi-annual event.” Although the reunion will be private, Waits said he wants the community at large to know…

Atlanta will become a sea of pink and green as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA) sisters from around the world converge on the city for its international convention July 9-16. More than 22,000 members of the organization, known for their signature pink and green attire, are expected during the organization’s 67th Boule, which will honor the late Dr. Mary Shy Scott, a prominent educator and motivational speaker who served as the sorority’s 23rd international president. Members from as far away as Germany, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, South Africa and Dubai are expected to attend the convention, which will be held…

Atlanta Field Day for adults: relay races, scavenger hunts and other wacky fun The Atlanta Sport and Social Club and Creative Loafing will team up to present Atlanta Field Day on Saturday, July 16, 12 – 5:30 p.m., at the Historic Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta. Bring your team of up to eight people for a day of fun in the sun and a chance to compete for the King of the Field title. Leave the kids at home – this field day is for grownups. This year’s event will feature Field Day classics such as tug of war, a…

Gwinnett County Probate Court is now offering fingerprinting for weapons-carry license applicants Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. Previously, applicants had to visit another office in a different building to be fingerprinted. Because the weapons-carry license application is a three-step process, applications must be received each day no later than 4 p.m. The fee for first-time applicants is $72.50; there is no additional cost for fingerprinting. The fee for renewal applicants is $30; renewal applicants are not required to get fingerprinted. Probate Court accepts cash, personal check, money order, and credit card…

The 5th annual Stand Up for Stand Down toiletry drive for Georgia’s homeless veterans will take place July 4 through Sept. 5. Sponsored by the Georgia district Pilot International Clubs and Georgia Cancer Specialists, affiliated with Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, the drive collects much-needed toiletry and personal care items to fill “comfort bags” for veterans who attend Stand Down events throughout North and Central Georgia. “Stand Down” is a military term that refers to the time when troops are brought back from the battlefield for rest and recuperation.  Each year, Stand Down events across the country provide health care and…

The City of Decatur, known around the nation as a “Tree City,” walk-friendly community, and for its planned development and revitalization efforts, has a new designation: It’s Georgia’s first Bee City. With the new designation by the Bee City USA program, the city plans to establish community gardens where honeybees and other pollinators such as butterflies and wasps will be protected. The gardens will serve as a place where beekeepers can breed honeybees and children and others can learn about the importance of honeybees. The city applied for the designation in June to support its efforts in urban gardening opportunities…