Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR – DeKalb County officials today announced a new partnership to assist county residents with applications for the Georgia Rental Assistance Program (RAP). The DeKalb Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) is launching the new partnership on Saturday, April 2, in collaboration with the DeKalb County School District, Clerk of the Superior Court, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (GDCA).  Federal funding to assist families with rents, utilities, moving and other expenses is being provided by the GDCA, which is administering Georgia’s $989 million rental assistance program. “We are excited and…

By Orrin Hudson Be Someone Founder/CEO, Stone Mountain, GA Those who were watching the Oscar Awards on Sunday night (March 27), no doubt saw actor Will Smith take to the stage and slap presenter Chris Rock after the comedian made an inappropriate joke about Smith’s wife’s shaved head style. Jada Pinkett Smith reportedly suffers from alopecia, a hair loss condition caused when the immune system attacks hair follicles. Rock commented about Jada’s “G.I. Jane” look but later said he did not know she suffered from the condition. Although many have rushed to support Smith’s actions in…

The public is invited to participate in a review of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for reaccreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) April 4-6, 2022. CALEA establishes and administers an annual accreditation process through which law enforcement agencies demonstrate voluntarily that they meet professionally recognized criteria for excellence in management and service delivery. Public comments can be submitted in three ways: By telephone, at 404-298-8282, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. By ZOOM during a public information session Tuesday, April 5,  at 5 p.m. Log onto https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/82588824941…

LITHONIA, GA– As part of ongoing efforts to solicit community engagement and reactivate the historic Bruce Street School, DeKalb County’s first Black public school building, event organizers have released an online form to further gather community responses and understand what people want the school site to become. Also known as the Lithonia Negro School and the Lithonia Colored School, the Bruce Street School was built and run by Lithonia’s Black community prior to integration. The school’s first graduating high school class (around 1943) included three pupils. By 1968, when the Bruce Street School was closed, there were over a…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by jury trial in the vehicular homicide death of a young girl and her dog on a busy DeKalb County road. Jurors returned guilty verdicts last Thursday against 43-year-old Eric Rodriguez on charges of Vehicular Homicide 1st Degree (2), Hit & Run, Reckless Driving, Driving Without a Valid License, Tampering with Evidence and No Insurance in connection with the death of Amiah Kenney, 12, and her dog, Noah. The fatal incident happened on Nov. 11, 2020 on the Peachtree Industrial Boulevard access road in Dunwoody around 10 p.m. Earlier that…

Conyers, GA– All Rockdale County Public School employees will get a $2,000 bonus in April, officials announced. Gov. Brian Kemp recently signed an amended budget for Fiscal Year 2022 that provides a one-time, $2,000 bonus payment to every K-12 public school teacher and other educational support personnel. Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Superintendent Terry Oatts is extending that bonus to all to all RCPS employees, including those not covered under the state requirements. The superintendent said he is extending the bonus to cover all RCPS employees as a gesture of gratitude for their work and sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic,…

CONYERS, GA—Detectives with the Conyers Police Department have charged a Conyers woman with exploiting an 81-year-old woman for months and using the victim’s credit cards to finance a hair salon. Nicole Macon, 45, was arrested in connection with the case after Adult Protective Services were contacted and police launched an investigation. According to authorities, the investigation found that the victim had been transported from her home in Illinois to Conyers by a friend of her family said to be the victim’s granddaughter.  The victim was deprived of any means to communicate with friends or family.  Her financial accounts and…

DECATUR, GA– Due to staffing challenges within its residential collection team, the DeKalb County Sanitation Division is currently experiencing recycling and yard trimmings collection delays in the north service area. The Sanitation Division’s north service area includes the section of Atlanta in DeKalb County, Tucker, Dunwoody, Brookhaven and Doraville. Sanitation crews will work through this weekend to ensure all recycling and yard trimmings are collected from affected households, official said. Residents are encouraged to keep their recycling and yard trimmings at the curb until servicing occurs. The Sanitation Division apologizes for any inconvenience and appreciates residents’ patience as collection…

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is seeking people to serve on its Riders’ Advisory Council (RAC), an all-volunteer group that provides feedback on improving the overall transit experience for customers. The inaugural council members are stepping down in May following a two-year term. The council is comprised of 25 members representing MARTA’s diverse customer base and hailing from its four service jurisdictions, City of Atlanta, and Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties. All are eligible to sit on the council except for MARTA employees, owners or employees of businesses with active MARTA contracts, elected officials, and those younger than…

ATLANTA – Atlanta Public Schools will host a virtual job fair on Saturday, March 26, 9 a.m. – Noon. Current teachers, veterans and other professionals considering a career change are encouraged to register for the online event. The job fair will feature representatives from all pf the district’s traditional schools, who will be recruiting for all grade levels and all subject areas, including special education, fine arts, math and science, world languages, as well as career and technical education fields. Other job openings include bus drivers, mechanics, as well as IT, HR and Finance professionals. The district is offering $3,000 hiring incentives for special education, math, dual language immersion, and CTAE(Career…