Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– All three high schools within Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) were named Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools by State School Superintendent Richard Woods, a distinction RCPS high schools have achieved for more than 13 consecutive years. Heritage and Rockdale County high schools were named AP Access and Support Schools while Rockdale County High School also made the lists for AP STEM and AP STEM Achievement. Salem High School was named an AP Expansion School. Superintendent Terry Oatts praised the school sytem’s students and teachers.  “I am extremely proud to have all our high schools represented on the…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—The Atlanta Regional Commission has allocated funds in the updated Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to Rockdale County for several ARC planned projects. The Rockdale River Trail Extension to Conyers is receiving $5.5 million, the Courtesy Parkway project is receiving $13.5 million programmed and a total of $30 million planned, Sigman Road Phase 3 is receiving $4.9 million programmed and $28.9 million planned. Sigman Road Phase 4 is currently in the preliminary engineering and is receiving $420,000 to support this phase. The trail extension will fill in the gap between 2 existing trails: the 4.5-mile Olde Town Conyers Trail,…

WASHINGTON, D.C.—DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson held discussions with the nation’s top leaders this week during the 2023 National Association of Counties (NACo ) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.  The leaders included U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and U. S. Surgeon General Vivek Murphy and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.    Johnson also announced the release of a book that he is featured in entitled “Governing On the Ground.” Here is the link to the discussion that DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson, immediate past president of NACo and Secrtary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg: video via NACo web site  https://www.naco.org/articles/buttigieg-talks-partnering-counties-infrastructure-safety-climate-change

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— At approximately 2:30 p.m. today (Feb. 16), a single-engine Piper-28 plane, crashed at the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport n a grassy area during a training exercise, officials said. The pilot and student on board were taken to local hospitals, authorities said. The plane had returned to the airport while experiencing engine problems and landed in the grassy area. No people, vehicles or buildings were struck, authorities said. The Federal Flight Standards District Office will be investigating the accident.

CONYERS, GA—The city of Conyers will partner with the Georgia Forestry Commission, Rockdale County Master Gardeners and the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival on Friday, Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. to plant a tree at the Big Haynes Creek Nature Center, located at the Georgia International Horse Park, in celebration of Arbor Day. Mayor Vince Evans and employees from the city’s Planning and Inspections, Code Enforcement and Public Works divisions and the Georgia International Horse Park (GIHP), will be present at the ceremonial tree planting. Mayor Evans will read a proclamation officially proclaiming Friday, Feb. 24, as Arbor Day in the…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Temperatures are expected to plunge into the 20s in the metro Atlanta area on Friday and Saturday, according to weather forecasts and DeKalb County is preparing for the cold. DeKalb officials will open warming centers for residents to use in the following locations for two nights, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17-18, beginning at 8 p.m.: Fire Station 3, 100 N. Clarendon Avenue, Avondale Estates, GA Fire Station 4, 4540 Flakes Mill Road, Ellenwood, GA Fire Station 6, 2342 Flat Shoals Road, Atlanta, GA North DeKalb Senior Center, 3393 Malone Drive, Chamblee, GA Anyone staying in the warming…

“This is a sad day for our city. We have lost another soldier…” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. has announced the funeral service for Thomas W. Dortch, Jr.: Celebration services for Thomas W. Dortch, Jr.Date: Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023Time: 11:00 amLocation: New Birth Missionary Baptist ChurchAddress: 6400 Woodrow Rd, Stonecrest, GA  The family has asked in lieu of flowers that you support the following foundations in honor of Chairman Dortch’s legacy: The Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. Foundationhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/twdjrfoundation National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc.https://nbcahof.org/donate/ Update: Mr. Dortch passed away on Wednesday with trumpeteer Mike Phillips serenaded him at his bedside,…

STONECREST, GA – On Friday, Feb. 17, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) and Sen. Jon Ossoff (GA) are meeting with Stonecrest city officials to announce the $1 million they secured in the 2023 Community Project Funding (CPF) appropriations for a new transit hub for city residents. The new hub will provide riders with better amenities such as restrooms, covered waiting areas and fare vending. Congressman Johnson secured $15 million in funding for 15 community projects in GA04 in the FY23 Appropriations, including $1 million for a MARTA transit hub in Stonecrest. WHO:             Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04); Sen. Jon Ossoff; Stonecrest…

CONYERS, GA—Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts to host a special live performance of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad presented by Virginia Repertory Theatre. The production will be held on March 2, 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., at the Rockdale Career Academy Theater, 1064 Culpepper Drive, Conyers. Based on the book and lyrics by Douglas Jones and music by Ron Barnett, this stirring drama celebrates the adventurous life of this great American hero who freed herself and hundreds of other people from the bonds of slavery.   Share in the joys, sorrows, and challenges of Harriet as she and her friend, Sarah Bradford,…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—The Gwinnett County Police Department has arrested Miles Bryant, a 22-year-old Doraville police officer, in connection with the death of 16-year-old Susana Morales, who had been missing since July 2022. Bryant, who is from Norcross, is charged with Concealing the Death of Another and False Report of a Crime in connection with Susana Morales’s death. Bryant is being held at the Gwinnett Detention Center without bond. “Detectives developed enough probable cause to get an arrest today, but the investigation is still on going,” said Gwinnett County Police spokesperson Officer Hideshi Valle. Investigators got a break in the case…