Author: On Common Ground News

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA—The City of Stone Mountain will host its National Night Out event, Aug. 6, 6 to 8 p.m., at Baptist Lawn, 5325 Manor Drive. The city’s event will feature an outdoor family movie, “Paw Patrol.” National Night Out, held the first Tuesday in August, is a community awareness event designed to promote police-community partnerships in the United States. Residents attending the city of Stone Mountain’s outdoor movie are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and/or sports chairs, as well as snacks. Free popcorn and water will be available for all to enjoy. No alcohol is permitted. The City of Stone…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is proud to announce the extraordinary school-level 2024-2025 Teachers of the Year – the women and men who go above and beyond for their students, peers and community. This year’s Teachers of the Year are: Barksdale Elementary School – Tonya Grant C.J. Hicks Elementary School – Felicia Addison Flat Shoals Elementary School – Robin Anderson Hightower Trail Elementary School – Coria Miller Honey Creek Elementary School – Maria Hernadez-Gonzalez J.H. House Elementary School – Lorraine Gilbert Lorraine Elementary School – Valencia Dawson Peek’s Chapel Elementary School – Stephanie Gordon Pine Street Elementary…

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA – This Saturday, July 27, the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is hosting its annual Back-to-School Rally from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to welcome families to the new school year. The first day of the 2024–2025 school year in DeKalb County, Georgia is Monday, Aug. 5. The free event has been moved from James Hallford Stadium to the District’s Administrative & Instructional Complex (AIC), located at 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard in Stone Mountain. This year’s rally theme is “Disrupting for Excellence: New Levels, New Heights” and will feature live entertainment, a Fun Zone for children, school supplies, family resources, health…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— More DeKalb County School District (DCSD) students will be able to receive free breakfast and lunch during the 2024-25 school year. District officials said today that its Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) nutrition program will expand from 75 to 105 schools, and any student who attends one of the CEP schools is eligible for breakfast and lunch at no cost. No application is needed for the CEP  schools. DCSD, comprised of 138+ schools and centers that serve over 92,000 students, also will continue to accept applications for free and reduced meals for students whose schools are not part…

Georgia Department of Education now says Black Studies allowed in schools   DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County School District (DCSD) Superintendent Devon Q. Horton has vowed to continue supporting the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course, announcing on Wednesday that the course will be offered at four of the district’s high schools. DeKalb’s move comes  as State Superintendent Richard Woods said on Wednesday that the state would pay for districts to teach a new AP course in black studies, a day after he said districts could only teach the course using local funds. Meanwhile, supporters for the black history course…

DECATUR, GA—A memorial honoring the late Congressman John Lewis is scheduled to be unveiled during a ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 11 a.m., DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and Board of Commissioners’ Presiding Officer Mereda Davis Johnson announced on Wednesday, July 24. “Congressman John Lewis’ legacy of pursuing ‘good trouble’ will be memorialized and celebrated by this tribute to a great man who dedicated his life to the pursuit of freedom, justice and equality for all,” Thurmond said. Further details about the event will be provided closer to the date. The memorial, conceptualized by the John Lewis Commemorative Task Force…

DECATUR, GA—On Friday, July 26, New Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 2580 Snapfinger Road, will host a “Feeding The Community” event. The free drive-through distribution will be held 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until food runs out. Food will be distributed on first-come, first-served” basis.

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Jonia Milburn released disturbing information during a press conference on Monday, July 22, concerning the death of her 27-year-old son, a U.S. Army veteran who suffered from PTSD and was confined at the DeKalb County Jail.    Milburn said that Christon DaVante Collins had been arrested after having a post-traumatic stress disorder breakdown. She had been trying to get him help since last year after several arrests for petty crimes. He died in a system that failed him, she said.     Milburn said that she obtained a surveillance video of her only son’s last hours alive at the jail through Georgia’s…