Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson of and Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry announced a joint town hall on Monday, May 22, at 6 p.m. at the Manuel Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. The commissioners are hosting the meeting to discuss the planned rollout of fee increases necessary to sustain and meet the needs of the water infrastructure system in DeKalb County. The stormwater fee resolution comes on the heels of addressing water and infrastructure throughout DeKalb County. In 2017, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond instituted the New Day Project in response to the…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Uniform Unit with the DeKalb Marshals today(May 18) served an Intruder Affidavit requiring Vincent Denard Simon to immediately vacate an Ellenwood home in DeKalb County owned by a military officer. Simon had been accused of illegally occupying the residence, which had been for sale by the owner while she was deployed with the U.S. Army Reserves in Chicago, Illinois. The civil service process was accomplished without incident and Simon vacated the residence. A weapon was found inside the home and drugs were found on the suspect before he left the premises.…

The Rockdale County Clerk of Superior and State Courts and the Conyers-Rockdale Library have been working together this spring on the Law Library Speaker Series. The objective has been to provide citizens with a resource that would give them access to attorneys for free and educate them on legal matters affecting their lives. The Law Library Speaker Series has shown itself to be a valued platform that has positively impacted the community. The upcoming session will be held: · May 20, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Conyers-Rockdale Library, 864 Green St. SW., Conyers · Topic: Guardianship · Speaker: Trichelle G. Simmons, Attorney…

CONYERS, GA—The Conyers-Rockdale Library has added OverDrive Libby materials to its online collection. The Libby app provides readers access to popular reading (including Spanish) and magazine materials. Borrow eBooks, audiobooks, magazines and more from the library for free. Libby is the newer library reading app by OverDrive, used by millions of readers worldwide. The library added OverDrive effective May 12. Libby is available free on Android, iOS and Apple CarPlay with a valid Conyers Rockdale PINES library card—all your loans, notes, bookmarks and reading progress sync across users’ devices. Libby’s mobile app is designed to make borrowing and enjoying eBooks,…

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA– Following an Executive Session at its Called Board Meeting today, the DeKalb County Board of Education overwhelmingly approved the negotiated contract for Dr. Devon Horton as the next superintendent of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) by a vote of 6-1. Dr. Horton will officially start on July 1, 2023. The board did not divulge specifics concerning the contract or salary. “Today represents an exciting new chapter for DeKalb County Schools as we enthusiastically welcome Dr. Horton into the District. His vision, energy, innovative approaches, and deep understanding of the needs of our diverse scholars made him…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb County Human Services Department Office of Youth Services is accepting applications for the 2022-2023 DeKalb County Youth Commission. The Youth Commission is a leadership program open for DeKalb County residents in grades 10 through 12 who attend high school in DeKalb County. Program participants learn the roles of county government, take part in civic and community activities, and serve as a voice for DeKalb youth regarding current issues. The DeKalb Youth Commission program is held annually from September to May. Selection for the program includes a competitive process that requires students to submit a completed application along…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb Human Services Department’s Office of Youth Services is accepting applications for its 2023 Sights N’ Sounds Program, designed to provide DeKalb high school students with exposure to the film, art, music production and recording industries. The program, which will offer workshops and hands-on experiences to encourage youth to pursue careers in the entertainment field, will be held in partnership with the DeKalb Entertainment Commission and Plug ATL, a local studio production company. DeKalb County high school students ages 15-18 are encouraged to apply. There is no charge to participate for accepted applicants. Classes will be held in…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA– The Gwinnett County Police Department will launch a highway safety initiative dubbed “Operation Whiskey Charlie” starting May 19 and ending May 20. During the weekend-long initiative, Gwinnett officers will diligently target speeding, drunk driving, aggressive driving, and other traffic offenses ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. In 2023 there have been 26 deaths caused by traffic collisions on Gwinnett County roadways. This loss of life prompted the police department to develop a targeted enforcement initiative to remind motorists of the importance of adhering to traffic laws. The goal of Operation Whiskey Charlie will be to protect the lives…