Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—The Rockdale Board of Elections & Voter Registration Office will move to a new location on Dec. 6. The new address is 1115 West Avenue. S.W., Conyers (formerly the site of the Rockdale County Schools Open Campus). All other contact information–phone number, fax number, email address—will remain the same. Elections Supervisor Cynthia Willingham invites the public to drop in and visit the new location. For more information, call 770-278-7333.

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs and the Foresite Group will hold a series of public meetings to review the master plan for Hairston Park. The first meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m. The meeting will provide guidance for future county park improvements and program development. The community is invited to participate and offer input regarding the master plan via Teams here  or by visiting the department homepage at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks. To join the meeting by phone, dial 1-929-352-2641, and use conference code 647 903 65#.    

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will partner with the DeKalb County School District and the DeKalb County 100 Black Men to host the 3rd Annual Lock-in for Life, a program designed to promote healthy relationships among middle and high school teen males. The four-hour event will be held Friday, Dec. 10, 6 to 10 p.m., at Redan High School, 5247 Redan Rd, Stone Mountain. The program was designed after taking a critical look at the needs of male students within DeKalb schools and the unique challenges they face, officials said. The program seeks to fill the gap…

  STONECREST, GA—Brandon Riley is leaving his position as the City of Stonecrest’s director of Parks and Recreation effective Dec. 10. Riley has been named senior director of program operations for Operation Hope, a nonprofit that offers financial programming and coaching to empower and uplift communities. Riley will start his new position on Dec. 13. Riley was instrumental in making several significant accomplishments during his nearly three years with the City of Stonecrest. During the 1 year and 7 months as parks director, he was responsible for overseeing: the acquisition of 11 parks and future park properties totaling over 420…

Pictured L-R: GLCC President Greg Williams, Sales Manager for Mid/Large Commercial Team Kaiser Permanent presents the Chamber’s award to Valerie Morgan, and Glenn Morgan.    The Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce (GLCC) honored On Common Ground News(ocgnews.com) Publishers Glenn and Valerie Morgan at its Morning Mix and Mingle on Dec. 1.    The event, which was held at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in the city of Stonecrest, was hosted by the Peachtree State Federal Credit Union’s Decatur branch. On Common Ground News’ was recognized for its dedication and over 26 years of service in the community. On…

 Edward Allen Gatling DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The Lithonia man who shot two DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office deputies this morning (Dec. 1) has been killed after engaging in gunfire with law enforcement tactical units attempting to make an arrest. Several metro law enforcement agencies joined the DeKalb Sheriff’s Office in pursuit of  Edward Allen Gatling, 38,  today in areas adjacent to the Wellington Circle home where deputies had gone this morning to serve an arrest warrant for Aggravated Assault with Attempt to Murder. During the warrant endeavor, Gatling opened fire and shot the deputies then fled the scene. A multi-agency…

DORAVILLE, GA—DeKalb County will give a $100 prepaid debit card to everyone who receives a COVID-19 vaccination on Saturday, Dec. 4. Beginning at 8 a.m., DeKalb County Board of Health, Emory Healthcare and DeKalb County Fire Rescue will administer voluntary COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone 12 years of age and older at the former K-Mart, 5597 Buford Hwy. NE, Doraville GA 30340. “DeKalb County’s focus of providing $100 incentives for vaccinations is having a major impact on increasing the county’s vaccination rates,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “Because of our partnership with DeKalb County Board of Health and Emory…