Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reports that two child abuse suspects have surrendered without incident to the custody of the DeKalb County Jail. Decatur resident Autumn Coney and Lithonia resident Bernetta Glover are charged with Cruelty to Children in the First Degree (Felony) for abusing a 3-year-old boy at Clarkston First Baptist Academy, 4007 Church St., Clarkston. The abuse came to light after the child’s mother, Krystin Collier, provided video surveillance to the Clarkson Police Department and warrants were issued for the women’s arrests after an investigation. According to the warrants, both suspects are accused of maliciously causing…

LAWRENCEVILLE—Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gwinnett County has served more than 1 million pounds of food through its mobile food distribution program, reaching 33,575 homes and 136,922 residents across the county. Now, Gwinnett County’s mobile food distributions have earned the National Association of Volunteer Programs in Local Government’s 2022 Innovative Program Award, which recognizes excellence in volunteer management in city and county governments. Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic and worsening food insecurity, the County partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to deploy a weekly mobile food strategy in April 2020. Each week, families in need can pick…

DECATUR, GA— The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections meeting for the purpose of conducting its normal monthly business will be held on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 4:30 p.m. This 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…

Oak Bluffs, MA — Atlanta civil rights attorney, activist, and author Mawuli Mel Davis, will present readings from “We Need You: Encouraging My Sons’ Generation for Black Liberation,”  on Martha’s Vineyard on Aug. 11.  The inspiring dramatic reading, produced by Kemi Bennings of Evolve! Artists Live, will be held at the Strand Theatre at 1 p.m. and is free and open to the public.  The dramatic reading will feature music and poetry from the Black Man Lab’s (BML’s) Young Creators’ “We Need You” Project.   “I am excited to share with the Oak Bluffs’ community more than my reflections and stories in the Black…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan Special to ocgnews.com ROCKDALE COUNTY–Dozens of family members traveled to visit Mary Ingram for her 101st birthday on Saturday, Aug. 6. Just a few years ago for Ingram’s 99th birthday, family members were joined by the Rockdale County Fire Department and Conyers Police Department. In addition to gifts of cards, candy and money, Ingram received a special telegram from family members on her birthday over the weekend.  A person dressed in a giant red heart serenaded Ingram as she sat in the shade of an oak tree in her yard flanked by dozens of family…

DECATUR, GA– On Friday, DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson extended her acknowledgments of the 109th birthday celebration of DeKalb County’s oldest citizen, Ms. Relda Beatrice Bennett Mackins, who was born on Aug. 7, 1913. Ms. Mackins was honored by her pastor, Rev. Vandy Simmons and her church, Antioch AME Church, 765 South Hairston Road, Stone Mountain, during the Sunday, Aug. 7, morning worship service. When asked her secret to long life, Mackins politely responds, “You have to ask JC (Jesus Christ).” Mackins daily routine entails a minimum of two 20-minute aerobic exercises on her indoor exercise bike. She said…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson has announced that her office has been selected to host Ruth Abunaw Arrengang, a Fellow from Cameroon in the Professional Development Experience (PDE) component of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. Arrengang will participate as a Fellow from July 21 to Aug. 17, and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. “We are delighted to host Ruth and support her journey of service to the people of her country,” said Commissioner Davis Johnson. “We hope that this visit will help to prepare her to be of greater service to…

ROCKDALE COUNTY,GA. –County leadership is evaluating ways to shrink the operating budget for fiscal year 2023, following the  Board of Commissioners’ (BOC) first two millage rate hearings on  Aug. 2. The county’s move came after dozens of residents, many of them elderly and on fixed incomes, pleaded with the board, saying that a proposed millage increase would pose a hardship as they faced rising food and gas costs, as well as challenges in paying for medications. They said they feared that a millage increase on top of soaring property values  could squeeze them out of their homes. One senior citizen…

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 for DeKalb County students in grades 10-12. Program participants learn the roles of county government, take part in civic and community activities, and serve as a voice for DeKalb youths regarding current issues. The DeKalb Youth Commission program is held annually from September to April. Selection for the program includes a competitive process that requires students to submit a completed application along with an essay and a referral from a community…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA– Gwinnett County again is being recognized nationally for its innovative services — several times over. The County won a record-breaking 11 National Association of Counties Achievement Awards for various programs implemented last year. This is the highest award count the County has received since the award program’s 1970 inception. “This is an amazing example of not just the hard work County employees put in daily, but the heart and passion that goes into their work,” said Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson. “I’m so proud that we’ve been able to maintain the stellar services our residents are accustomed to…