Author: On Common Ground News

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Crews Middle School Lead Counselor Shayla Thompson has been named the Georgia School Counselor of the Year by the Georgia School Counselor Association (GSCA). The Georgia School Counselor of the Year award recognizes school counselors who strive to be model citizens of their community, the school counseling community, and their broader professional community. They maintain high moral standards in their personal and professional conduct, and implement comprehensive, data-driven school counseling programs that support students’ career, social/emotional, and academic developmen “I’m incredibly grateful for this recognition, especially knowing I work alongside so many amazing and dedicated counselors. This experience…

LITHONIA, GA– DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold its 3rd Annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Nov. 8, 12 noon to 4 p.m., at 1185 Rock Chapel Road, Lithonia, GA. This year’s festival invites families and friends of all ages to enjoy an afternoon of outdoor fun and tasty treats. The free event will feature fall-themed activities aimed to engage arts and crafts explorations, outdoor adventure and more.  Festival Highlights: A campsite‑style s’mores station Guided garden tours  Honey tasting Local vendors   Face painting Petting zoo Pony rides “This event has truly become a highlight of our fall season,” said Kevin Buford,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Antioch AME Church, 765 S Hairston Road, Stone Mountain, is hosting a community-wide Trunk or Treat event on Friday, Oct. 31, from 6-8 pm.  Children are welcome to wear their costumes.  There will be food, candy and music. The event is free.   

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has appointed Dr. Clare Avory as the new Director of DeKalb Emergency Management Agency,a vital step in ensuring public safety and wellness.   Avory brings more than two decades of experience in operations, crisis leadership, and emergency preparedness to the role, following a distinguished tenure as Associate Director of Emergency Preparedness at Louisiana State University (LSU). Avory will lead the DeKalb County Department of Emergency Management’s efforts to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies, natural and manmade disasters. She will serve as liaison to local, state, and federal agencies to ensure community safety, resilience,…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – The Supreme Court of Georgia unanimously upheld the conviction of a man found guilty of murder while driving drunk and fleeing police. Victor Allen Smith, 59, appealed his 2023 conviction on counts of felony murder, vehicular homicide, driving under the influence and other charges – and the subsequent life sentence – by claiming that prosecutors prejudiced the case when they presented evidence to the jury that his license had been suspended for roughly 18 years at the time of the incident. The evidence at trial was that Smith struck and killed 22-year-old Hugo Natanael Martinez on the evening…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—State Rep. Rhonda Taylor(D-Conyers), who represents House District 92, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission will host an information session concerning the Georgia Promise Scholarship voucher program, Georgia Match, and other state-supported educational resources on Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m., at the Conyers-Rockdale Library, 964 Green St. S.W., Conyers. Taylor said the information session will provide an opportunity for interested parents and high school seniors to learn more about the Georgia Promise Scholarship program created through Senate Bill 232. The program offers eligible students in grades J-12 funding to cover a range of educational expenses including private school…

ATLANTA—The City of Atlanta announced the Invest Atlanta has approved $925,00 in Tax Allocation District (TAD) funding to support the city’s small business community. The funding is part of the ongoing effort to bolster Atlanta’s small businesses through targeted investment and to ensure they can fully capitalize on major events coming to Atlanta, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  “Small businesses are the backbone of Atlanta’s economy, and these grants are one way we can help them grow and remain sustainable,” said Mayor Andre Dickens, who also serves as Invest Atlanta Board Chair. “Strategic funding isn’t just about dollars and cents; it’s about building opportunities. Every…

ATLANTA—Congressman Hank Johnson is hosting a tele town hall meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23, 7 to 8 p.m., to hear from constituents in Georgia’s Fourth Congressional district about how federal cutbacks and the government shutdown is impacting healthcare. “If you have a story you want to share, I want to hear from you. If you’re a furloughed or laid-off federal worker, I want to hear from you. Shoot, if you’re a MAGA Trump supporter, I want to hear from you, too,” Johnson stated in a news release on today, Oct. 22,” Congressman Johnson stated in a news releasee on today,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Residents filled the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center on Oct. 15 for a town hall focused on data center development in DeKalb County. The event, “Helping Residents Understand Data Centers,” brought together community members, policy leaders, and industry experts for an open and informative discussion about the growing impact of data centers across metro Atlanta. Hosted by DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson, in partnership with Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson and Commissioner Dr. LaDena Bolton, the event was also live streamed on DCTV to ensure access for those who could not attend in person. The conversation comes…

ATLANTA—Bishop Gary Hawkins, Sr., founder of Voices of Faith Church (VOF), is marking his 31st pastoral anniversary with a weeklong celebration that will culminate with special worship services on Sunday, Oct. 19, at VOF’s main campus in Stone Mountain (Gwinnett County) and Conyers (Rockdale County).    VOF has five campuses across metro Atlanta and one in his hometown, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The festivities kicked off on Wednesday with an in-person Empowerment Night and continued Friday evening with bowling, bandanas and blessings. A crowd of members and guests attended the “Bowling with the Bishop” pizza night, which was held at Bowlero Lilburn…