Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA – On Dec.7, 1946 at 3:42 a.m. the first alarm came into Atlanta Fire Department headquarters: “The Winecoff Hotel is on fire!” For the next two hours, everything good, bad, improbable, and certain about the human experience played out. Few events in history can match the Winecoff Fire for extremes. The DeKalb County History Center will present Janet Cox, daughter of survivor Dorothy Moen Cox, and the authors of the book, The Winecoff Fire, to discuss both the personal and historical significance of this Atlanta tragedy that happened on Dec. 7, 1946. This event will be recorded The ticketed program…

ATLANTA – Chris Bailey’s whirlwind journey to becoming an Olympic gold medal winner comes full circle when he returns to the place where it all started on Thursday, Sept. 12. Bailey, who didn’t start running track until he entered 11th grade at Carver Early College, will return to the school for a recognition and ring ceremony featuring faculty, staff, and students, as well as Bailey’s family and friends. After graduating from Carver Early College in 2018, Bailey had a stellar academic and athletic college career that included stops at Mississippi Valley State University, the University of Tennessee (Class of 2022, B.S.,…

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw will host his Annual Veterans Expo and Fellowship Lunch event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, at Tobie Grant Recreational Center, 593 Parkdale Drive, Scottdale. Commissioner Bradshaw, in collaboration with Atlanta VA HealthCare System, AMVETS Post 44, Georgia Grace and Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Departments, will provide onsite resources and information about housing, VA benefits, caregivers, trauma recovery, employment and training, mental health, telehealth and women’s wellness programs. “I appreciate the many partners who will be present to provide much-needed information and resources for veterans and…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–The DeKalb County Board of Education will conduct an Audit Committee meeting on  Thursday, Sept 12, 1 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Cabinet Room at the Robert R. Freeman administrative Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain. The audit committee meeting agenda is attached and also can be accessed online at: www.dekalbschoolsga.org, click on Leadership, go to Simbli (formally known as eBoard) Home Page and click on the date for the meeting agenda/information. The meeting can be viewed online at the following link on DeKalb Schools TV (DSTV) by going to: www.dekalbschoolsga.org/communications/dstv. AGENDA: A. CALL TO…

PHILADELPHIA, PA–Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are set to meet tonight (Sept. 10) for their first and perhaps only debate before the Nov. 5 presidential election.  The showdown for the high-stakes debate will take place at the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia and will be televised at 9 p.m. ET by numerous networks. Hosted by ABC News, the debate comes as polls show Harris and Trump are in a dead heat. Harris leads Trump by just 1 point—49 percent to 48 percent—among registered voters, according to the latest PBS News/NPR/ Marist poll. Analysts say tonight’s showdown will be…

ATLANTA—The world-famous Tabernacle Choir of Salt Lake City, Utah is bringing its Hope Tour to Atlanta and joining forces with the historic Morehouse and Spelman College Glee Clubs for a free concert at State Farm Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m. The Tabernacle Choir performed a private concert at Morehouse College’s Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on Sunday, Sept. 8. Tabernacle Choir president Michael O. Leavitt described what concertgoers can expect on Wednesday night: “The Choir will join their voices once again with those from Morehouse College and Spelman College glee clubs. When these famed groups perform together,…

DECATUR, GA–The South DeKalb Improvement Association Education (SDIAE) Inc. and New Life Community Alliance will host a forum featuring candidates running for the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners District 3 and Super District 7 seats. The forum will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to noon, in the sanctuary at New Life Church, 3592 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur. Below are the candidates and their respective districts: BOC District 3 Andrew Walter Bell Nicole Massiah, Esq. Tommy “Tommy T” Travis Jacqueline “Jake” Walls BOC Super District 7 Jacqueline Adams LaDena Bolton Demetrius McCoy Kenneth Chung Royal

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Larry Cox, member-elect of the Rockdale County Board of Education is hosting a community listening session on  Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6 to 8 p.m. Cox wants to hear from residents before he officially takes the oath of  office in January 2025. Parents, teachers citizens are encouraged to attend the meeting to share concerns about the Rockdale County School System.

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—The Rockdale County Board of Elections will hold a special meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 5 p.m., to discuss proposed changes to election-related rules that the Georgia State Election Board will consider on Sept. 20.  The proposed rules include reconciliation of hand-counted ballots, storage of ballot returns, voter lists and poll watchers in tabulating centers among other issues. The public may attend the Rockdale Board of Elections in person or virtually.