Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA— The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections will host a special called meeting on Monday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss voter registration challenges.  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…

STONECREST, GA – The City of Stonecrest approved new rules that will allow wine-grape growers to produce and sell wine at their properties located in the Arabia Mountain Overlay District. The City Council unanimously passed the ordinance during its Oct. 24 meeting. The new law states that producers must obtain a special land use permit before beginning operations. In addition, wineries and vineyards are only permitted within Stonecrest’s Arabia Mountain Overlay District on parcels zoned R-100 and on at least 15 acres of land. “The City of Stonecrest continues to support local initiatives important to our residents, especially those that…

STONECREST, GA–– Chairwoman Jazzmin Cobble, of the Urban Redevelopment Agency of the City of Stonecrest, Georgia (URA), announced that the URA successfully acquired the REAL property located at 3120 Stonecrest Boulevard, Stonecrest Georgia from Stonecrest Center LLC. The property is home to Stonecrest’s City Hall and several existing tenants, including Strayer University. The transaction was financed by the URA’s issuance of $6,050,000 in original aggregate principal amount of its Revenue Bond (City of Stonecrest Project), Series 2022A and its Revenue Bond (City of Stonecrest Project), Federally Taxable Series 2022B (collectively the “Bonds”). The bond issuance and real estate transaction both…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County’s Hamilton Recreation Center, 3262 Chapel Street, Scottdale, will host a Parents Night Out and Kids’ Snack and Paint Party on Friday, Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The Parents Night Out program offers a safe, fun environment for children to spend an evening while parents enjoy a little time to themselves. Youths ages 5-13 are welcome to participate. Registration is $10 per child and will include dinner, painting, games, music and more. Pre-registration is required and is on a first come, first served basis. To access online registration, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the “Register Online” button on the…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson announces extended hours at the property tax office located on Memorial Dr. from Nov. 7 – 15, Monday – Friday, until 6 p.m. Customers paying their property tax bills will temporarily use the UGA Extension office entrance at the front of the building through Tuesday, Nov. 15. Seniors and customers with a disability parking placard may still check-in at the Property Tax side entrance from Northern Avenue. Offices are closed Nov. 11 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. “We urge taxpayers to plan ahead and make payments before the November 15 deadline. Each year…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has proclaimed Friday, Nov. 4, as “Early Voting Day” in DeKalb County. “Voting is a privilege and a right that is afforded to all eligible residents,” Thurmond said. “Exercising that right ensures that our voices are heard by our local, state and national leaders.” Friday, Nov. 4, is the last day to vote early in-person in this year’s midterm election. As of Nov. 1 in DeKalb County, approximately 164,000 eligible registered voters, or 28.5 percent, have cast their ballots during early voting, which began on Oct. 17. Eligible voters are urged to vote early…

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools’ (RCPS) scores followed the state and nation in a slight decrease on the American College Test (ACT), according to results released by the Georgia Department of Education for the Class of 2022 graduates.   RCPS had an overall ACT composite score of 18.8, a decrease from last year’s score of 20.8. The state average decreased to 21.6 and the nation decreased to 19.8. A total of 360 RCPS students took the ACT which is 200 more students than the Class of 2021. These scores are the most recent results from the 2022 graduates who…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb Chief Magistrate Berryl A. Anderson recently appointed five new judges to the bench.  These attorneys will serve in part-time judicial positions, handling a wide variety of civil, ordinance, criminal and protective order matters, serving the public 365 days a year in this busy court, known as “the people’s court.” Each one of the newly appointed judges brings to the court the depth of experience and knowledge necessary to ensure justice for the citizens of DeKalb County. Judge Mirna Andrews has served as a DeKalb County Assistant District Attorney for 12 years. For 16 years, Judge Elizabeth…

ATLANTA– Live Thrive will soon open its second Zero Waste Center (aka CHaRM), made possible through a partnership with DeKalb County, to be located at 1225 Columbia Drive in Decatur.  The groundbreaking of the new location will take place on Nov. 14, with the facility slated to open  in the first quarter of 2023. Live Thrive’s DeKalb Zero Waste Center will offer the same vital recycling services as the first CHaRM, located on Hill St. SE in Atlanta. In 2021 alone, the Hill Street CHaRM reused, recycled or re-engineered more than 31 tons of Styrofoam, 274 tons of chemicals, 251 tons of glass, 1,727…