Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host its Doggie Splash Pawlooza on Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Midway Park Pool, 3181 Midway Road, Decatur. This year’s event will include a dog swimsuit contest, games, music and more. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place winners. Admission is $5 per dog to swim. All proceeds will fund enhancements for the Brookside and Mason Mill dog parks. Owners must arrive with their dogs on a leash and provide proof of current vaccinations and rabies tag. Female dogs in…

By Mark Brock DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Twenty volleyball teams competed in the annual DeKalb County Spikefest with home teams Miller Grove and Chamblee laying claim to the titles in their respective brackets. Miller Grove hosted nine other teams with the Lady Wolverines going 5-0 to claim the title against Lithonia in tight three-set match in the championship game. Coach Pamela Jones-Flowers’ Lady Wolverines opened the final with a 25-22 win in the opening set only to have the Lady Bulldogs of Coach Tiffany Allen bounce back for a 25-19 win in the second set. Miller Grove then went on to a…

Date: 08/13/2024, 1:00 p.m. ET The Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant declared an Alert at 12:00 PM ET today. An Alert means an event has occurred that could reduce the plant’s level of safety. There should be no danger to the public. County and state officials will be involved and prepared for any necessary response. You will not need to take any actions unless directed to by state and local officials. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as well as state and local agencies have been notified of the declaration. Among the four categories of emergencies designated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission…

By Mark Brock DeKalb Silver Streaks Adapted Sports veteran Najee Smothers was selected as the youngest player to make the United States Wheelchair Coed Handball team, officials announced. Smothers, a junior at Grayson High School in Gwinnett County, went to an Open Invitation Tryout for the U.S. team at Georgia;s Auburn University in early July and with his performance earned a call back to an Invitation Only Tryout in early August where he earned a spot on the team as announced on Aug.7. “They saw him at a day camp at Auburn and they asked him to the first tryout,”…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County is one of the first jurisdictions in Georgia to have its hazard mitigation plan approved under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) new guidelines, county officials announced today.  Developed collaboratively with the City of Conyers, the plan is a long-term strategy aimed at reducing the community’s vulnerability to natural disasters. The FEMA-approved plan identifies potential hazards in Rockdale and provides a framework to assist local officials in making informed decisions that could protect lives and property. A crucial aspect of the plan is its focus on implementing mitigation projects throughout the city and county to reduce…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb Public Health is kicking off the 2024-2025 school year with extended clinic hours and walk-in availability through Aug.17. Health centers will be open until 7:30 p.m. Services will include immunizations, vision, hearing, dental and nutrition screenings. Birth certificates also will be available through the Vital Records office. “Back-to-school rush has a special and personal significance this year, as my oldest child is off to kindergarten,” said Dr. Sandra J. Valenciano, District Health Director and CEO of DeKalb Public Health. “I empathize with everything that my fellow parents and caregivers are going through. While this may be a stressful…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Board of Health will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, Aug. 15, in the Bohan Auditorium, located in the Richardson Health Center at 445 Winn Way, Decatur. The meeting will begin at 3 p.m.  The public is invited to attend. Public access will be available via video conference through the following methods: Zoom Video: https://app.zoom.us/ Meeting ID: 766 5001 4119 | Passcode: ktd4Cc Zoom Audio: 301-715-8592 | Meeting ID: 76650014119# Agenda items for the meeting include: Call to Order Approval of Minutes Regular Board Meeting Minutes of May 23, 2024 Election of Officers Nomination and Election…

UPDATE:  Darius Lavoice Carlos has been located safely, officials stated  8.19.2024. ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing 46-year-old Conyers man who may be in need of his medication.  Darius Lavoice Carlos was reported missing by his wife. Details about Mr. Carlos were provided by the Sheriff’s Office in the missing Be On the Lookout alert below:

STONECREST, GA—Belinda’s Southern Cuisine has closed  after nearly a four-year run in the city of Stonecrest. The white tablecloth linen restaurant, known for its Sunday-style soul food dinners throughout the week, served its last customers on Aug. 3, 2024, owners Belinda Hull and Bobby Hubbard announced today, Aug. 10. Hull told On Common Ground News that she and her husband, Bobby, have decided to retire after dedicating themselves to their passion for serving homecooked meals in an upscale environment in the historic City of Stonecrest. The restaurant, which opened in November 2020, drew not only locals but visitors from across metro Atlanta and…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson has been tapped for key appointments by the National Association of Counties (NACo), officials announced on Friday, Aug. 9. The appointments come as Gwinnett County celebrates recognition by the national organization for 31 of the county’s groundbreaking programs secured under Hendrickson’s leadership. NACo President James Gore has appointed Hendrickson to serve on the Community, Economic and Workforce Development Steering Committee as subcommittee vice chair. The committee focuses on housing. Hendrickson also will serve as vice chair of the Large Urban County Caucus. Gore said he chose Hendrickson because of her commitment…