Author: On Common Ground News

Today, Mayor Beverly Jones announced that Darnetta K. Tyus will be the City of Stone Mountain’s new City Manager. “We were looking for someone with passion, vision, energy, and experience who could communicate well, motivate people, become part of our community, and help us to move forward,” said Jones. “After consulting the Georgia Municipal Association and reviewing online applicants, we decided upon Darnetta K. Tyus. Ms. Tyus comes to us with a proven history of successful goal execution and impeccable references. We assessed her professional achievements and were very impressed with her ability to expediently initiate and execute projects in…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb County Board of Ethics will conduct a board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 15, 6 p.m. The meeting will be held via Zoom at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/88137432677. Join by phone at 602-333-0032 or 888-270-9936 and use conference code 171493.  Agenda Adoption of Agenda Approval of the Minutes of August 18, 2022 III.        Administrative Items Update on newly hired Ethics Officer Update on Deputy Ethics Officer LaTonya Wiley Public Comment Executive Session to Discuss Legal Matters Motion to Convene an Executive Session Motion to Adjourn an Executive Session C.Motion to Approve the Executive Session Affidavit Board Comments/Future Action Items VII.     Announcement…

CONYERS, GA–Rockdale County Public Schools began livestreaming the Board of Education meetings on Sept. 8, providing citizens the opportunity to view the meeting in real time. Recordings also will be posted to the district’s You Tube channel for later viewing. Live streaming began with the Board’s work session at 6p.m. The link to each live stream will be at the top of the online published meeting agenda. Agendas will be posted a minimum of two days prior to the meeting. The direct link to the RCPS Board of Education website is: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/rockdale and the meeting agendas are located under the…

DECATUR, GA– The suspect drove up to the rear of the DeKalb County Jail beyond the “Authorized Vehicles Only” sign and parked in a spot reserved for the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit. Smyrna, Georgia resident Cara Leanne Johnson, 34, was arrested on Sept. 4, outside the jail as she allegedly attempted to get contraband to inmates inside. A sheriff’s deputy patrolling the perimeter approached Johnson about the illegal parking and her presence inside the jail Guard Line. He also noticed a black bag in her hand and a rope dangling nearby from a broken cell window several stories up.…

By Mark Brock DCSD Athletics Specialist Five high school football games are set for DeKalb County stadiums this weekend, while ranked teams, Cedar Grove and Columbia, travel to face a pair of Top 10 ranked opponents from high classifications. The Class 3A No. 1 ranked Cedar Grove Saints (2-0) put it on the line heading to Class 7A No. 6 ranked Collins Hill Eagles (1-0) to take on a Class 7A opponent for the second time in two weeks with two more on tap the next two before a game against highly touted St. John’s of Washington D.C, all…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections will conduct its normal monthly business on Thursday, Sept. 8, 4:30 p.m. The meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). Simultaneous public access to the meeting will be available via livestream on DCTV’s UStream channel at https://video.ibm.com/channel/dctv-channel-23. To make a public comment, join via Zoom: https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/97184078303 or dial in via phone toll free at 888-270-9936 and use conference code: 171493. Public comments of two minutes or less may be made live via the teleconference. For those joining the meeting by telephone, please be aware that phone numbers may be displayed to the…

CONYERS, GA—In response to Jackson, Mississippi’s water crisis, Springfield Baptist Church in Conyers is mobilizing to send bottled water to Jackson. According to news reports, rainfall of historic proportions flooded Mississippi’s Pearl River, triggering equipment failures at the  O.B. Curtis water treatment plant in Jackson, MS, the state’s capitol city. Officials say some 150,000 residents are without safe drinking water as a result of the crisis. Springfield will collect water (preferably 24 and 48 bottled water cases) from the community Sept. 9-11. The water collected will be transported to Jackson, MS in conjunction with the Mississippi Food Network. The collection dates and times…

DECATUR, GA—Today, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond announced the establishment of a DeKalb Bicentennial Commission that will lead a year-long series of events that will commemorate and celebrate the county’s 200-year history. The bicentennial commemoration will officially begin on Dec. 9, 2022, the 200th anniversary of the founding of DeKalb County, according to CEO Thurmond’s 2022 mid-year budget amendment recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. “History teaches us that common purpose is the secret sauce that inspires and empowers mankind to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles,” said Thurmond. “We must embrace this unique opportunity to demonstrate how people of different races,…