Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is joining in a statewide celebration this week to salute the efforts of local school board members. The week of March 11–15 has been proclaimed School Board Appreciation Week in Georgia. The weeklong observance calls attention to the contributions of local boards of education. “The Rockdale County Board of Education continues to be among the best in the state,” said Rockdale Superintendent Terry Oatts. “This award-winning Board has earned the Georgia School Boards Association’s Exemplary Board designation for each eligible year, a total of eight times, and has won the Leading Edge Award…

ATLANTA— On Wednesday, March 13, Sen. Sonya Halpern, (D–Atlanta) will host a press conference in honor of HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Heritage Day in partnership with Governor Brian P. Kemp. EVENT DETAILS:     Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Time: 1:30 p.m. Location: Georgia State Capitol, North Steps, 206 Washington St., Atlanta This Event is Open to the Public. ABOUT THE PROGRAM: This event is free and open to the public and will feature a short program celebrating the impact and importance of Georgia’s 10 HBCUs. Students, presidents of Georgia HBCUs, and Senators Derek Mallow (D–Savannah) and Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas) will join Sen. Halpern,…

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Over the weekend, Congressman Hank Johnson’s $15.8 million in Community Project Funding for Georgia’s 4th District (Fiscal Year 2024) was signed into law by President Joe Biden. A detailed summary of the bill is available HERE. The funding, included in the first of the appropriations government funding packages, responds directly to some of the most pressing needs in Johnson’s Fourth District – which is currently comprised of parts of DeKalb County, Newton County, and all of Rockdale County. “Taking care of home first has always been how I approach representing our great district,” Rep. Johnson said. “The nearly…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Richard A. Oden, former Chairman of the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners, on Friday, March 8, entered the race for Chairman, challenging incumbent Oz Nesbitt, Sr. Oden filed his qualifying papers by the noon deadline, said Rockdale Democratic Party Committee Chair Rosalyn Ridgeway. Oden, who served as chairman from 2009 to 2016, joins JaNice Van Ness, a former Rockdale commissioner, James Sendelbach, a licensed professional counselor, and Brian L. Jenkins, in the Chairman’s race. Jenkins is a community activist who serves as president of the Rockdale branch of the NAACP and owns a landscape design company. Kai Oden,…

The qualifying period for the May 21, 2024 General Primary and the Nov. 5, 2024 General Election ended today, March 8, with a few more people entering key races before the noon deadline. Attorney Gina Smith Mangham filed qualifying papers and is challenging incumbent Mereda Davis Johnson for the Commissioner District 5 seat. Andy Yeoman qualified for the Commissioner District 1 seat and is challenging incumbent Robert Patrick. Rita A. Scott also filed today to run for the Commissioner District 4  seat. Scott joined three others seeking that seat, which will be vacated at the end of  2024 by Steve…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– A 48-year-old Snellville man has been arrested following an undercover investigation where he thought he was soliciting a 14-year-old girl for sex. Jermaine Morgan was arrested on March 6 by the City of Millen Police Department, with assistance from the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit. The undercover chat investigation began on Jan. 2 with the suspect who thought he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl online. Investigators said the suspect acknowledged the age of the decoy in the chat and maintained a sexual conversation with the decoy. The suspect solicited the decoy for obscene images of herself…

Story Updated DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Larry Johnson and Lorraine Cochran Johnson officially entered the race for DeKalb County CEO, filing their qualifying papers on Thursday, March 7. The two Johnsons, who are unrelated, along with Steve Bradshaw, are vying to succeed Michael Thurmond, whose term expires at the end of 2024. All three Democrats in the CEO race have served together on the 7-member Board of Commissioners.  Their bids for  higher office will mean  three veterans are leaving the board. Larry Johnson and Lorraine Cochran Johnson had to vacate their seats this week to qualify to run for DeKalb CEO. Because…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Brian L. Jenkins officially entered the race on Thursday, March 7, for Chairman of the Rockdale Board of Commissions. Jenkins, who is owner of BJ’s Landscaping & Design and BJ’s Home Improvement, joins James Sendelbach, a licensed professional counselor, and JaNice Van Ness, a former Rockdale commissioner,  in challenging Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr., who is seeking re-election. Jenkins is a community activist who serves as president of the Rockdale branch of the NAACP. Incumbent Sherri L. Washington also qualified on Thursday for re-election for the County Commissioner, Post 1 seat.  Washington is facing two challengers: Tuwanya Smith, who did…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson reminds homeowners to check their homestead exemption status before the April 1 application deadline. To avoid delays, homeowners can check online at DeKalbTax.org or call 404-298-4000 for assistance Exemptions provide a reduction in annual property taxes and are available to individuals who own and occupy the home in the county, including the City of Atlanta portion in DeKalb. Special exemptions are also available for eligible seniors ages 62 and older, disabled residents, and disabled veterans. “Homestead exemptions provide significant savings for property owners who own and live at their primary residence,”  said Johnson. “Homeowners…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Due to forecasted cold weather, DeKalb County will open five warming centers for residents on Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10, starting at 8 p.m. to use at the following locations: Fire Station 3, 100 N. Clarendon Avenue, Avondale Estates Fire Station 4, 4540 Flakes Mill Road, Ellenwood Fire Station 6, 2342 Flat Shoals Road, Atlanta North DeKalb Senior Center, 3393 Malone Drive, Chamblee Frontline Response International, 2585 Gresham Road, Atlanta Anyone staying in the warming centers must follow the county’s COVID-19 protocols that include wearing a mask, social distancing and undergoing a temperature check. Those…