Author: On Common Ground News

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,…

STONECREST, GA – The City of Stonecrest’s first round of street repaving scheduled to start on Aug. 29 was postponed. The roadwork started on Tuesday, Sept. 6 following the Labor Day holiday. Funding for the project is provided through Special Purpose Local Option Sales tax (SPLOST) funds. The project is a part of the City’s 2022 paving program. In total, 58.3 lane miles of roadway will be repaved throughout the city. Stonecrest will invest nearly $12 million in its street repair and resurfacing program through its 2022 funding. This investment will support asphalt street resurfacing, and a general repair of…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County is relaunching its Veteran Transportation Program via the specially-designed vehicle called the “Eagle.” The program assists honorably discharged Rockdale County veterans of any age with trips to the Veterans Hospital in Decatur and the VA clinics in Stockbridge and Covington. Veterans may be picked up for trips at their home, the Veterans Affairs office, or at Rockdale Senior Services. The Veteran Transportation Program offers additional personnel to assist the veteran in and out of their appointments along with open spots for caregivers to attend the appointment with their loved one. Veterans must register for the…

ATLANTA—The Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series will host General Election debates for U.S. Senate, Governor, Secretary of State, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, State School Superintendent and U.S. Congressional Districts One, Two, Six, Seven, Ten, Thirteen and Fourteen. The debate series will take place at Georgia Public Broadcasting, 260 14th Street, NW, Atlanta,  on Oct. 16-18. All debates will be available for viewers to watch live on GPB.org and The Atlanta Press Club Facebook page www.fb.com/TheAtlantaPressClub. All candidates who qualify to have their name on the ballot are invited to participate in the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series.…

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA– Featuring more than 350 artists from across the United States, Stone Mountain Park’s 54th annual Yellow Daisy Festival will take place Sept. 8-11. New in 2022, will be theYellow Daisy Vintage Village. Located within the lower meadow of Yellow Daisy Festival, vendors from across the globe will showcase antiques, vintage collectibles, and amazing farmhouse chic home goods and décor. The Yellow Daisy Festival gets its name from the September blooming of a special type of yellow daisy, which only grows within 60 miles of Stone Mountain. First discovered in 1846, Viguiera Porteri, grows in bright bands of yellow on the granite outcroppings…