Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA – DeKalb County Superior Court has begun using a mandatory electronic system for filing criminal cases via Tyler’s Odyssey eFileGA. Effective Aug. 1, attorneys and those who are representing themselves can open cases and file documents from a user-friendly, secure website 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Superior Court bench issued “Order Implementing Electronic-Filing for Criminal Cases” on Aug. 1, 2022, made effective on the same date. The following cases are excepted from the Order: documents filed pre-indictment; indictments; accusations; any other case initiation filings; Sealed documents; Ex Parte Matters, or any other pleading imposing…

Update: DeKalb crews contain sewer main break DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) crews contained a 24-inch-diameter sewer main break off Bouldercrest Road near Interstate 285. Contractors mobilized a bypass pump at approximately 11 p.m. on Monday night, Aug.1, to stop the sewer spill and have begun the repairs. Officials said the break is being investigated and appears to be due to severe bank erosion on the South River. DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) crews have located a 24-inch-diameter sewer main break off Bouldercrest Road near Interstate 285, officials said Monday night (Aug.1).…

DEKALB, GA–DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 8, at 4:30 p.m. This meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). The Finance Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. To listen in on the meeting, please request the link from weissingera@dekalblibrary.org no later than noon on the date of the meeting. For more details on the agenda and about listening in, click here.  

Notice is given that per the agenda attached, the Rockdale Board of Elections will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022 at 4 pm. The purpose is to conduct a hearing and determine whether 39 voters who are using Post Office Boxes as their residential address for voter registration purposes, should remain registered voters.  Georgia Election Code § 21-2-216, Qualifications of electors…states in part that “(a) No person shall vote in any primary or election in this state unless such person shall be: (4) A resident of this state and of the county or municipality in which he or she…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs announces that select county pools and facilities will be open on a modified schedule from Aug. 6 through Sept. 7. The Exchange Splash Pad and the pools listed below will be open only on Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.   DeKalb facilities open until Sept. 7 ·       Exchange Splash Pad, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30034 ·       Gresham Pool, 3113 Gresham Road, Atlanta, GA 30316 ·       Lithonia Pool, 2501 Park Drive, Lithonia, GA 30058 ·       Medlock Pool, 874 Gaylemont Circle, Decatur, GA…

STONECREST, GA–New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is helping thousands of area students start the school year on the right foot its annual back-to-school event on Aug. 13.  Registration is underway now. Senior Pastor Jamal H. Bryant and the New Birth congregation have expanded this year’s outreach to include the distribution of 5,000 brand-new pairs of shoes for school-aged students. Registration is required for all participants. In DeKalb County, where New Birth is located, nearly 95,000 students are registered in the school district with 48.2% eligible to receive free or reduced lunch, according to a 2021 Dekalb County School District report. “We…

DECATUR,GA– The DeKalb County Charter Review Commission will meet Thursday, August 4, 6 p.m.  The meeting will be held via Zoom at: https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/81329771170 (or Telephone: Dial: US 602 333 0032 USA 8882709936 (US Toll Free) Conference code: 217687 AGENDA Call to Order Roll Call Minutes From Previous Meeting Introduction of Invited Guests: DeKalb Attorney Viviane Ernstes Report from Chair Unfinished Business: Approval of By Laws New Business Discussion of September meeting location. Remarks of Interested Citizens/Public Comment Adjournment / Next Meeting

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, in partnership with Center Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully (C.H.O.I.C.E.S.), Amazon, Amerigroup and Victory for the World Church, will host the Let’s Move DeKalb! Back-to-school event on Saturday, July 30, 11 a.m. he event, in its 12 year, will be held at the Intergenerational Center at Exchange Park, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur. The event will be held outdoors with a mobile drive-thru will service recipients. Attendees will receive a food basket filled with fresh produce, groceries and book bags filled with school supplies. The Let’s Move DeKalb! Back to School event is free…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to restore legitimacy and independence to the nation’s highest court, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced the Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization (TERM) Act. The legislation would establish term limits for Supreme Court justices while preserving constitutional protections for judicial independence in decision making. Under the TERM Act, a new justice would take the bench every two years and spend 18 years in active service. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) is introducing the legislation in the U.S. Senate. “This Supreme Court is increasingly facing a legitimacy crisis,” said Johnson, Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee…

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Z  Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. announced that Valerie Hollingsworth Baker’s term as the 25th international president ended on Sunday, July 24, and lauded her for four years of outstanding leadership and service. Hollingsworth Baker will be succeeded by Stacie NC Grant. Creating scholarship opportunities was a principle that Hollingsworth Baker held in high regard during her tenure.  Under her leadership, Baker institutied the sorority’s Founders Scholarship, a series of $100,000 – $125,000 scholarships honoring Zeta Phi Beta’s five founding members. The scholarship is awarded for five years to a female high school graduate student pursuing a college education. The Founders scholarship, provided to…