Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Board of Ethics will conduct its Special Called meeting on Thursday, Aug.  8, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held via Zoom at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/88137432677. Join by phone at 602-333-0032 or888-270-9936 and use conference code 171493.  Agenda Callto Order Adoptionof Agenda III.            Administrative Items Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of July 18, 2024 Nomination and Election of Officer(s) Evidentiary Hearing Procedures Public Comments Comments from the Board of Ethics Executive Session to Discuss Pending Litigation and Personnel Issues Motion to Convene an Executive Session Motion to Adjourn an Executive Session Motion to Approve the Executive Session Affidavit VII.         Announcement of Next Regular Meeting Date of Thursday, August 15, 2024…

LITHONIA, GA–First Saint Paul AME Church will host its Annual Back to School Bash on Aug. 10, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The church, which is under the leadership of the Rev. Marvin L. Crawford, is located at 2624 Klondike Road, Lithonia.   The free event will feature the following: School supplies Back packs Clothing with Emonie’s Closet Child ID packets  There will be food, games, and music. The DeKalb County Board of Health’s Mobile Clinic will provide immunizations and health screenings.  The community is invited.

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Government is partnering with the DeKalb County School District and local faith leaders to distribute 3,000 bookbags filled with school supplies, along with 5,000 boxes of fresh produce, chicken, and lunch box snacks on Saturday, Aug. 3. DeKalb students return to classes for the 2024-2025 school year on Monday, Aug. 5. DeKalb County and its partners will distribute: 3,000 clear bookbags filled with a pack of 12 pencils, a pack of 12 pens, a pack of 24 crayons, pack of three erasers, ruler, composition notebook, a three-subject notebook, notebook filler paper, a flash drive and a calculator…

ATLANTA – The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) will hold its 51st annual legislative conference this weekend, Aug. 2-4, at Atlanta Metropolitan College, 1630 Metropolitan Parkway S.W. Legislators, elected officials, community leaders and strategic partners will gather to discuss key issues under the GLBC’s 2024 theme,“Redeeming the Soul of America, Testing1, 2, 3.” The conference kicks off with a reception on Friday, Aug. 2, 8:30—11:30 p.m., at Bar Ti Amo, 3199 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta. Dr. Jamal H. Bryant, pastor of the mega New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and headline newsmaker, will be the keynote speaker at the GLBC Unity Breakfast…

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) recently hosted a tour for a group of African college students who are aspiring engineers. The students, currently attending Georgia State University, are participants in the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellows Program, sponsored by the U.S. State Department. The program was originally proposed by Ambassador Andrew Young, who also took the time to meet with the students. The visiting students hail from Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and South Africa, and they are all keen on pursuing careers in transit. Among the group are two future mechanical engineers, an aspiring urban planner, and a future…

DECATUR, GA– In response to National Weather Service forecasts of heat indices exceeding 100 degrees, DeKalb County is opening cooling centers on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday(July 31-Aug. 2). DeKalb County recreation centers and libraries will be available as cooling centers during the locations’ normal business hours. Water fountains will be accessible at county recreation centers , parks and libraries. During cooling center activations, recreation center pools will be free to the public from 2 to 6 p.m. For a list of available cooling centers, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/weather. The DeKalb County Department of Human Services, located at 30 Warren Street, Atlanta, will be open…

Property owners encouraged to sign up for e-billing notifications   DECATUR, GA– Following the approval of the county’s 2024 tax digest by the Georgia Department of Revenue on July 29, 2024, the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office will mail nearly 260,000 tax bills to property owners beginning Aug. 15. Bills for City of Atlanta properties in DeKalb will be mailed at a later date.  “The digest is an official listing of county property and its assessed value. This office, in conjunction with the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, CEO, Tax Assessor’s Office (Property Appraisal), GIS, Board of Education, city governments,…

ATLANTA – State Representatives Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) and Segun Adeyina (D-Grayson) will host a community listening session event on Saturday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., at Redemptive Life Church in Conyers. The community listening event will feature several county commissioners as guest speakers, including Denise R. Mitchell, Gwinnett Tax Commissioner; Tisa Smart-Washington, Rockdale Tax Commissioner; Pam Brown, Rockdale Board of Education; Diijon DaCosta, DeKalb Board of Education. They will be in attendance to answer questions from constituents in House Districts 93 and 110, which include DeKalb, Newton, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties. The representatives and county commissioners will discuss legislation, education,…

According to police, Lauren left her home in Jonesboro, Georgia at approximately 9:00 am on July 18, 2024. Lauren is described as 5’2″, weighs 117 lbs., and has brown eyes with brown hair. She was last seen wearing black sweatpants and a black hoodie. Lauren is believed to stay in the local area or travel to other cities in Georgia. Lauren’s family is extremely worried for her wellbeing and want nothing more than to bring her home safely. Lauren’s mom hopes this message will reach her daughter: “Lauren, I love and miss you so much. Your whole family is here…