Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston presented her 7th Annual Love Run 5K on Feb. 26, 2022 in support of the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence. The chilly weather didn’t dampened the enthusiasm of those who participated. While some showed up in person outside the downtown Decatur Courthouse, others participated virtually, documenting their fundraising efforts.

ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council will resume regularly scheduled, in-person meetings on Monday, March 7, at 1 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave.SW. Regularly scheduled, in-person committee meetings will resume the week of March 14 and will also be convened in the City Council Chamber. The meetings will be conducted in accordance with the City of Atlanta’s Charter, City Code of Ordinances, and the rules of Council as adopted for in-person meetings. In-person public comment procedures will resume as previously conducted and adopted by the Council in accordance with City Charter Section…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) announced that it will lift its mandatory mask requirement for all staff and students indoors and on buses. Effective March 2, mask-wearing will be strongly encouraged for all staff, students, and visitors but not mandatory. DCSD said in a March 1 news release: “DCSD is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff. The district reviews the COVID-19 case data and status reports for the school district and DeKalb County. In collaboration with the DCSD’s Medical Advisory Committee, all information is utilized to make decisions on mask-wearing and other mitigation strategies.…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County Government is partnering with local faith leaders to distribute 3,600 boxes of produce and chicken on Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m. “As food prices continue to soar, many people are struggling to keep food on their tables,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. “This food distribution will help to relieve the burden residents have of feeding their families.” Food distributions will be held at the following locations: Berean Christian Church, 2201 Young Road, Stone Mountain, GA 30088 Big Miller Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 3800 Big Miller Grove Way, Stonecrest, GA 30038 New Birth Missionary…

STONECREST, GA– The 10th and final year of Monadnock Madness, the springtime hiking promotion stretching across three mountains and throughout the month of March, has begun. Participants can get out and explore Georgia’s granite giants – Arabia, Panola, and Kennesaw Mountains – through the Triple Hike Challenge, guided ranger programs, nature photography workshops and mountaintop yoga. A “monadnock” is a large geologic formation that has remained static as the ground has eroded around it – Arabia, Kennesaw and Panola Mountains are all three examples of this geologic formation. These metro-Atlanta mountains support a variety of rare and beautiful plant species, including diamorpha, atamasco lily, trout lily…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will participate in a discussion sponsored by the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum on the state of affordable housing in metro Atlanta. The event, “Taking Stock of Metro Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Priorities,” will take place virtually on Wednesday, March 2, 9:30 a.m., and will feature a diverse group of metro Atlanta city and county leaders at the helm of housing initiatives. The program will be held virtually and broadcast live on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Those who are interested in attending the “Taking Stock of Metro Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Priorities” forum should register…

STONECREST, GA– Crime Stoppers is now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the shooting death of Henry Ashley, 24. The DeKalb County Police Department Homicide/Assault Unit continues to actively investigate and follow leads regarding the Febr. 19 incident.   Investigators believe Ashley, who worked as a security guard at the business located at 8455 Mall Parkway, Stonecrest encountered the suspects at approx. 11 p.m. as he investigated a suspicious person’s alert on the property.  Moments after the encounter, the suspects shot him while he was in his marked work vehicle. He was transported to a…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) today re-introduced the Minorities in Aviation Education Act, H.R. 6841, which would create a grant program aimed at improving the preparation and representation of minorities in aviation-related fields. The new grant program, administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will be named for Bessie Coleman, an American aviator and the first black woman to earn a pilot’s license. It comes on the heels of the Congressman’s Black History Month program entitled: “Blacks in Aviation: Past and Present” where he honored the history of black pioneers for their courage and perseverance that paved…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Monday, March 7, at 4:30 p.m. This meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). The Policy Committee will meet at 4 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.

DECATUR,GA–DeKalb County Police have identified the 4-year-old child who accidentally shot himself with an unsecured gun he found in his mother’s car.  Miyell Hernandez was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said.   The incident occurred on Sunday, Feb. 27, around 5 p.m., in the parking lot at Publix, located at 3455 Panola Road. Miyell was in the car with two relatives—an infant and a 13-year-old while his mother was inside the store, police said. The teen ran inside the store for help after Miyell accidentally fired the loaded gun.   No charges have…