Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA—The Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners today (Sept. 28) voted unanimously to name Larry Stewart chair of the board. Commissioner Sarah Kirsch will serve as vice chair. “It is a great honor to have the opportunity to serve as chairman of the Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners, continuing an incredible legacy started over 80 years ago. I trul y thank my fellow Commissioners and Mayor Dickens for their trust,” said Chairman Stewart. “I am incredibly proud of the work of Eugene Jones Jr. and this outstanding staff, who work tirelessly to ensure that affordable housing is attainable for those in need,…

LITHONIA, GA—The Board of Commissioners of the Lithonia Housing Authority (LHA) has appointed Nikki Davis as Chief Executive Officer.   Davis succeeds the agency’s long-time CEO, the late Martha Calloway, who passed away after illness on Jan. 22, 2022. Mrs. Calloway had held the position as CEO of the Lithonia Housing Authority for 20 years. Prior to her taking the helm with the LHA, Davis served in the private sector of multifamily housing, most recently as a regional manager.    Davis is a Detroit native who has lived in the Lithonia area for 30 years. She has five children and five grandchildren. Davis has served…

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Class of 2022 graduates, like the state and nation, saw a dip in composite SAT scores over the previous year. The 2022 mean composite score for RCPS is 980. The mean composite score for Georgia public schools is 1052, and the mean composite score for U.S. public schools is 1028, both decreasing from 2021. RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts said the school system will focus on enhancing test preparation and providing a viable curriculum for post-secondary education. “Consistent with the state and national data, RCPS saw a decrease in our mean composite score; however, RCPS…

ATLANTA – MARTA and Soccer in the Streets, held a long-awaited community celebration to mark the official opening of StationSoccer at the Lindbergh Center rail station. Officials from the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta United Foundation, founding partners, also  celebrated the opening on Tuesday (Sept. 27). The soccer pitch, which is adjacent to MARTA headquarters on Piedmont Road in Atlanta opened in 2020, but the celebration was delayed due to COVID-19. “We are excited to officially celebrate StationSoccer at Lindbergh with our valued partners at Soccer in the Streets, the City of Atlanta, and the Atlanta United Foundation,” said MARTA…

The Chamblee Police Department responded to an incident on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 a.m. that was described as an apparent suicide at a business on Clairmont Road. “There is no danger to the public related to this incident and the DeKalb Medical Examiner is on the scene,” said Kerry Thomas, Chamblee Chief of Police. Currently, the Chamblee Police Department is investigating.

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– State Rep. Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) will host the “East Metro Housing Resource Fair” on Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at Voices of Faith Church in Conyers. During the event, individuals will receive information regarding mortgage, rental and utility payment assistance programs. Individuals will also have an opportunity to learn about the state’s home buyer and down payment assistance programs. Rental and utility assistance applications will be processed onsite. Financial literacy and budget sessions will also be conducted. Rep. Carter will be joined by the following officials from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs: Tracey Turman,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – A Stone Mountain, Georgia man is in jail after he allegedly pointed a firearm at a woman and fired shots into the air on Stone Mill Way on Sept. 21. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office arrested Paul N. Donald, 43, at his residence Sept. 26 on charges of Aggravated Assault Weapon, a felony, and Reckless Conduct, a misdemeanor.  According to the arrest warrants, Donald pointed the weapon multiple times at Alyssa M. Monterroso and insinuated that he would kill her, then discharged the weapon several times as he drove into the roadway, officials said. No probable…

ATLANTA—Gov. Brian P. Kemp ordered the activation of the State Operations Center today, Sept. 26, to prepare for Tropical Storm Ian later in the week.   The state is making preparations in coordination with Director Chris Stallings of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS), the National Weather Service, and other storm response partners, Kemp’s office said. According to the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Tropical Storm Ian is expected to begin rapidly strengthening today and will continue to do so through Tuesday, at which point it will become a Category 4 hurricane.…

DECATUR, GA – The Religious Affairs Committee of the NAACP DeKalb County Branch will host its inaugural Faith Festival on Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event will bring together churches and faith-based organizations across the county to share their resources and information with the community. The Faith Festival will be held at White Oak Hills Baptist Church, 5171 Redan Road in Stone Mountain, pastored by Dr. Jeffrey Easley.  The event is free to participate but registration is required.  This is an event for the entire family and for all faiths. To register as a participant, visit…

STONECREST, GA—The Stonecrest Citizens Coalition is demanding an explanation for the departure of Janice Allen Jackson, who abruptly resigned as city manager on last Tuesday (Sept.20). Mayor Jazzmin Cobble confirmed Jackson’s departure during a brief interview with On Common Ground News on last Thursday, Sept. 22, two days following Jackson’s resignation. Cobble, however, declined to state what led to Jackson’s sudden departure. Jackson confirmed that she resigned but also declined to discuss the matter further. Cobble said in a statement that interim acting Deputy City Manager Gerald Sanders and City Finance Director Gia Scruggs would oversee city administration, operations and…