Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA – State Representatives Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) and Rhonda Taylor (D-Conyers) will host a virtual town hall to educate property owners and homeowners on House Bill 1093 and other housing issues on Thursday, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Advanced registration is required. To register for this virtual town hall, please click here. “I am worried that such a law would increase the number of boarding houses, illegal personal care homes and party houses within stable neighborhoods and single-family residential neighborhoods,” Rep. Davis stated in a news release. “In my district, homeowners would not have the ability to complain that…

WASHINGTON, D.C.—DeKalb County Commissioner and National Association of Counties (NACo) President Larry Johnson will welcome President Joe Biden to the NACo Legislative Conferencetoday, today, Feb. 15. President Biden will address conference attendees during a general session beginning 1 p.m. EST. Commissioner Johnson’s introduction and President Biden’s address will be livestreamed here. “It is an honor to welcome President Biden to our conference, especially as we work with the administration to invest federal resources in our communities,” Johnson said. “Our strong partnership with the federal government will help DeKalb County and counties across America thrive.” The opportunity to welcome President…

STONECREST, GA—The Stonecrest City Council on Feb. 14 passed a resolution during a special called meeting to hold a special election on May 24 to fill the unexpired term for the office of mayor. The resolution was approved 5-0. The council authorized the DeKalb County Board of Elections to conduct the special election and a runoff, if needed, on June 21. The council also approved a resolution setting the qualifying fee for the mayoral race at $600. Although the qualifying dates were not stated during Monday’s special called meeting, Mayor pro tem George Turner said that the qualifying period must…

On Sunday, Feb. 27, 1-4 p.m, community members will gather to shape the future of the remnants of DeKalb County’s first Black public school, the Bruce Street School ruins. The event will take place at the offices of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, 3350 Klondike Road, Stonecrest, GA 30038. Free parking is available onsite and at the easily accessible trailhead next door (3366 Klondike Road). This event is the third in a series designed to gather community feedback and direct the reactivation of the school site. The event will be led by Martin Rickles Studio, an Atlanta-based interdisciplinary design studio; staff members…

The Columbia Eagles led from start to finish in the DeKalb County Junior Varsity Boys Basketball Championship but had to hold off a furious fourth quarter rally by the Arabia Mountain Rams to claim a 58-49 victory. Columbia (12-1) jumped out to a 11-0 lead to open the game and went up 32-22 with 4:27 to play in the third quarter on a three-pointer by Trevian Callaway before the Rams (10-3) began to chip away at the lead to pull within 36-32 at the end of the third quarter on a Jordan Miller runner in the lane. Arabia Mountain…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–A 5-0 run in the final 37 seconds of the game sealed a 43-35 win for the Columbia Lady Eagles over the Arabia Mountain Lady Rams in the DeKalb County Junior Varsity Girls Basketball Championship on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Miller Grove High School. Arabia Mountain’s Caiden Bradford hit a runner coming in from the wing with 1:17 to play to pull the Rams within 38-35. A few seconds later the Rams got the ball back with the chance to tie the game when Columbia’s Kerselin Anderson got a steal and was fouled with 37 seconds…

DECATUR, GA– In observance of Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 21, sanitation service for residential customers will run one day late as follows: Monday, Feb. 21 – Presidents Day observed. No sanitation service. Tuesday, Feb. 22 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Monday, Feb. 21, will be serviced on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Wednesday, Feb. 23 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, Feb. 22, will be serviced on Wednesday, Feb. 23. Thursday, Feb. 24 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, Feb. 23, will be serviced on Thursday, Feb. 24. Friday,…

ROCKDALE COUNTY–Rockdale County Government is joining forces with the City of Conyers to combat war on litter in Rockdale. On Friday, March 11, employee volunteers from Rockdale County and the City of Conyers will be armed with neon safety vests, trash pickers, and trash bags spread throughout six zones around the community. “There has been a noticeable uptick in the amount of trash, debris, and household waste throughout Rockdale County with kitchen appliances, car tires, sofas, and bags of trash just to name a few. This does NOT represent who we, the citizens of Rockdale County, are!” said BOC…

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…