Author: On Common Ground News

Georgia families looking for a Mother’s Day gift on the wild side can treat mom to two days of camping and paddling May 6-8 as Georgia River Network hosts a special adventure on the Yellow and Alcovy Rivers The statewide river advocacy organization has pegged this Mother’s Day weekend of camping and paddling as an adventure geared to families with special programs for youth throughout the event. “Georgia River Network loves getting families on rivers,” said Joe Cook, Paddle Georgia Coordinator. “Electronic devices don’t mix well with water, so parents and children alike are assured of each others’ undivided…

ATLANTA—Sen. Elena Parent (D – Atlanta) will host a collaborative virtual town hall on Monday, Jan. 31, 6 p.m., alongside Rep. Bee Nguyen (D – Atlanta), DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, and Atlanta Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari. As legislators share initiatives and updates on this year’s Legislative Session, participants are invited to ask questions and connect with neighbors via Zoom video conference. The video conference is open to the public online and questions may be submitted in advance at: https://bit.ly/Jan31-Questions. WHO: Sen. Elena Parent Rep. Bee Nguyen Commissioner Larry Johnson Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari WHAT: Collaborative Town Hall WHEN: Monday, Jan. 31, 6 p.m. WHERE: Registration for…

ATLANTA – Teens interested in learning more about the field of emergency management are encouraged to apply for s Youth Preparedness Council (YPC). The 2022 YPC application period is open now through March 6. FEMA’s YPC was formed in 2012 and is in its 10th year. The council brings together young leaders from across the country who want to strengthen preparedness in their communities and help FEMA build a culture of preparedness. Selected council members will have the opportunity to present their ideas to FEMA, grow their leadership skills, and support resilience in their communities through emergency preparedness projects. There will…

Participants will receive free admission to SeaQuest, $100 gift card   STONECREST, GA–DeKalb County District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and Stonecrest Resorts principal and developer Vaughn Irons are sponsoring their second free COVID-19 vaccination event to include great incentives for DeKalb County residents. The COVID-19 vaccination event will take place on Saturday, Jan. 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium at the Mall at Stonecrest, 8020 Mall Pkwy., Suite #1000, Stonecrest, Ga. 30038. Individuals who receive a COVID-19 vaccine will get free, same-day admission to SeaQuest at Stonecrest, as well as a $100 gift card. Children…

DECATUR,GA–  On Tuesday, DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson announced a joint town hall, in partnership with Commissioner Robert Patrick. All DeKalb County citizens who wish to meet the new officials in the DeKalb County Department of Voter Registration and Elections are encouraged to attend the virtual meeting. The virtual town hall meeting will take place on Thursday, Feb. 3,  6:30-7:30 p.m. The virtual meeting will be livestreamed on Commissioner Davis Johnson’s and Commissioner Patrick’s Facebook pages, along with live coverage from DCTV. “I am proud to cohost this town hall meeting with my colleague, Commissioner Patrick as we present…

LITHONIA, GA–Martha H. Calloway, longtime executive director of the City of Lithonia Housing Authority, has passed away. City officials said that Mrs. Calloway died on Saturday, Jan. 22. Funeral arrangements are still being made by her husband and family members, said Mayor Shameka Reynolds. “We will provide more information as it becomes available,” said Reynolds. ” The city and Housing Authority plan to have a memorial service to honor her memory in the near future.” Mrs. Calloway was a resident of Macon, Georgia.   Photo: Martha H. Calloway is pictured as the hostess of a high tea that she held for…

Story updated Jan. 26, 2022, 4:14 p.m. ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA –The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office has charged and arrested a teacher at Salem High School in Conyers with simple battery after a thorough investigation involving the assault of a 14-year-old male student. On Jan. 21, Marquette Thinn, 44, of Lawrenceville, was seen on video pushing a 14-year-old male student to the ground in a classroom filled with other students during a verbal altercation in which he cursed at the student. The student complained of wrist pain resulting from the assault by the male teacher. Thinn was a teacher in the…

CONYERS, GA—Conyers Police have released the identity of a man whose body was found on Jan. 20 on the property of the Conyers Post Office on Highway 138. Capt. Jackie Dunn said today (Jan. 26) that the man who was found was John Jerry, 58. His identity had been withheld pending notification of next to kin.  He was believed to be homeless. His last known address was the Horizon Extended Stay in Conyers, Dunn said. Dunn said Jerry died of natural causes. “An autopsy was performed and it is clear from the autopsy that there was no foul play,”…

Applications accepted online for one-week only   ATLANTA—The applications process is now open for the city’s guaranteed income pilot program for low-income Atlantans. I.M.P.A.C.T. (Income Mobility Program for Atlanta Community Transformation) will serve 300 City of Atlanta low-income residents who will receive $500 per month in guaranteed income for one year. The Urban League of Greater Atlanta began accepting applications for the program today, Jan. 26, at 8 a.m. on behalf of the city and Mayor Andre Dickens. In one of her final acts as mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms announced a partnership between the City of Atlanta and the Urban…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has installed full-body scanners at entrances to its facilities on Memorial Drive in Decatur to better detect the presence of weapons and contraband on visitors, employees, and arrestees at the DeKalb County Jail. Last year, the agency purchased two units of the Tek84 Intercept Body Scanner for High- Security Screening, a state-of-the-art security scanning system of the type that is being used by more than 500 correctional facilities nationwide. The units are located inside the jail intake area and the public entrance to the jail lobby. They represent the agency’s commitment…