Author: On Common Ground News

The City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) survey will be available online, May 1 – June 11   STONECREST, GA – Beginning May 1, the City of Stonecrest will invite residents, community organizations, business owners and stakeholders to participate in an online survey to assist officials in determining the best use of funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Act was signed into law on March 11, 2021. It is the sixth COVID-19 relief bill enacted and provides approximately $1.9 trillion in assistance. The City has been allocated $9.7 million in funding to address the negative impacts…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The DeKalb County Board of Education approved a one-year contract for interim Superintendent Dr. Vasanne S. Tinsley, a retired deputy superintendent for the district, during a special-called virtual meeting on Friday, April 29. Tinsley’s contract became effective April 26, 2022 and will be prorated. She will earn a base bi-weekly salary of $13,541.67 until April 25, 2024, unless terminated sooner, according to the employment contract. Tinsley formerly served as the Deputy Superintendent of Student Support & Intervention in the district. Tinsley begin her work with the district in 1994  as a school counselor and advanced in her career…

DeKalb County District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is co-sponsoring a rally and a canvassing event this weekend to reach teens and parents who may need support, resources and ongoing mentorship, and to encourage local residents and businesses to get involved in reducing crime and violence. The Stop The Madness Rally, in partnership with the Rockbridge Coalition, will take place Saturday, April 30, 9 to 11 a.m., at the intersection of Redan Road and S. Hairston Road, where two homicides occurred days apart last December at the local BP and Chevron gas stations. “In 2021, DeKalb County hit a homicide…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the case against a DeKalb County man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting two young girls in his care.   Jurors returned guilty verdicts on April 18 against 33-year-old Justin Kenard King on charges of Rape, two counts of Aggravated Child Molestation, three counts of Child Molestation, and three counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree. At the time the abuse was discovered, the victims were 8 and 9 years old. The charges against King stem from an outcry by one of the victims to…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Board of Ethics will conduct a special called meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held via Zoom at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/88137432677. Join by phone at 602-333-0032 or 888-270-9936 and use conference code 171493. Agenda Convene a Special Called Meeting and Adopt Agenda Interview of finalist for Board Counsel Bonnie Levine III.Finalist for Ethics Officer position Elisa Murphy Adjourn a Special Called meeting

Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement and Gwinnett Health Department officials are advising residents to use caution and avoid animals behaving in unusual ways after a cat tested positive for the rabies virus on April 27. Two adults were attacked by the cat in the East Crogan Street/Buford Drive area in Lawrenceville on April 26. The cat was contained by the City of Lawrenceville Police Department and taken to Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement’s facility. Foxes, raccoons and other wild animals carry diseases like rabies that can spread to people and pets through a bite or scratch. All…

Agenda Updated  May 3

DECATUR, GA– To adjust for decreased demand for COVID-19 testing, our testing partners, LTS and Viral Solutions, will reduce or end COVID-19 testing at their respective locations over the next two weeks. COVID-19 testing in the parking lot of Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church, 1879 Glenwood Ave., SE, in Atlanta, will end on Friday, May 13, at 2 p.m. The remaining testing sites, staffed by Viral Solutions, will operate on the following modified schedule beginning Monday, May 2: Brookhaven MARTA Station Parking Lot 1238 Apple Valley Rd. NE, Brookhaven Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday CLOSED 9:00 a.m. –…

DECATUR, GA – On Thursday, April 28, DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson announced that she has formally rescinded her endorsement of School Board member DiJuan Dacosta in the District 6 school board election. “The children are paramount. Parents and prospective residents must feel confident in our educational system”, Davis Johnson said. Davis did not state the reason for rescinding her endorsement. However, her decision follows the controversy surrounding the Board of Education’s abrupt removal on April 26 of Cheryl Watson-Harris as school superintendent. The DeKalb Board of Education and Watson-Harris have come under fire by the public and state officials…

The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold the following virtual meeting and executive session on Friday, April 29, 2022: 2:00pm          VIRTUAL CALLED MEETING and EXECUTIVE SESSION Virtual Executive Session Virtual Called Meeting The virtual called meeting agenda is attached and can be accessed online by going to: www.dekalbschoolsga.org, click on Leadership, go to Simbli (formally known as eBoard) Home Page and click on the date for the meeting agenda/information.  The virtual meeting can be viewed at the following link on DeKalb Schools TV (DSTV) by going to: www.dekalbschoolsga.org/communications/dstv.