Author: On Common Ground News

STONECREST, GA—The Stonecrest City Council has decided to delay in-person meetings at City Hall.  The council unanimously approved an emergency extension to the city’s ordinance to continue virtual meetings through Jan. 24, 2022.  The council voted on the measure at a special-called meeting on Nov. 4. Mayor pro tem George Turner apologized for the change.  He said the council had previously announced that in-person meetings at City Hall would resume on Nov. 8. However, due to an uptick in DeKalb County’s COVID-19 cases, Turner said it would be best to wait until January 2022. Acting City Manager Janice…

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. – DeKalb County School District(DCSD) officials will hold a press conference on Monday, Nov. 8, to announce the roll out of a comprehensive master plan outlining district-wide school and infrastructure improvements to be funded by the recently approved E-SPLOST (Education- Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax). The news conference will be held on Monday, Nov. 8, 2:45 p.m. at DCSD’s Administrative and Instructional Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA.   SPEAKERS:  DCSD Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris   DeKalb Board of Education Chair Vickie Turner  “As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and engagement, we continue…

Jan. 2, 1936 — Oct. 30, 2021 LITHONIA, GA–Barbara Ann Woods Lester, a former Lithonia City Council member, was laid to rest on Saturday, Nov. 6. Mrs. Lester, 85, passed away on Oct. 30 after a long illness. Lithonia Mayor Shameeka Reynolds, Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary and former DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis were among the dignitaries who attended the homegoing celebration for Mrs. Lester at the Willie Watkins Event Center in Lithonia. Ellis was among several speakers who provided reflections, as well as Mayor Reynolds, who presented a proclamation on behalf of the city of Lithonia. The Rev.…

Six DeKalb County teams are locked into the high school football state playoffs next Friday and Saturday after this past weekend’s action that included big wins by Southwest DeKalb, Lithonia and Chamblee to end the regular season. Southwest DeKalb secured the No. 2 seed out of Region 5-5A with a 66-0 rout of Northview on Friday night at Hallford Stadium as seven different players scored touchdowns. Billy Johnson ran for a pair of touchdowns and Wesley Brown scored twice on defense on a fumble return (21 yards) and a pick-six (36 yards). Sabian Campbell accounted for two touchdowns with…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Decatur-DeKalb Chapter, Inc. (NCBW) announced the election of Kianna N. Lawson as its eighth Chapter President. “My vision is to continue to lead the NCBW Dekalb Chapter forward as a distinguished women’s advocacy organization whose focus is on advocating and providing a positive impact on the improvement of the lives of African American women and girls. I am committed and dedicated to push the mission and goals of NCBW,” said Lawson. Lawson joined the NCBW Decatur-DeKalb Chapter, Dekalb, Georgia, in 2006. During her tenure, she has served locally as Chapter 1st…

ATLANTA—The City of Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) announced utility relocation work is complete on the fire-damaged Cheshire Bridge over South Fork Peachtree Creek, clearing the way for demolition work to begin the week of Nov. 8. The bridge was closed to traffic in August after a fire severely compromised safety for traffic. A demolition contractor was selected in late September and vendors have been working to move power, water, gas, cable and phone lines off the bridge and around the construction zone. Investigative demolition work—as well as bridge sidewalk and overhang removal—will then take place,…

STONECREST, GA—Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble released the following statement to the residents of District 3: “Words cannot express my sincere thanks to the residents of the 3rd District in the City of Stonecrest. To gain your vote of confidence and support for re-election sends emotions and gratitude as we Build Back a Better Stonecrest. I am both humbled and honored to be your voice at City Hall. I extend my sincere thanks to my family, friends, and loyal supporters who worked hard to spread the good news about what we are doing to make Stonecrest the very best city. As your elected voice,…

Pictured L-R: Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President John Corcoran; HDC Senior Construction Manager Tim Johnson; HDC Development Project Manager Dorothy Bell; DeKalb County Community Development Director Allen Mitchell; DeKalb County Super District 6 Commissioner Edward “Ted” Terry; Housing Authority of DeKalb County Commissioner Dr. Thomas L. Coleman; City of Clarkston Interim City Manager Shawanna Qawiy; Beverly J. Searles Foundation President Philip E. Searles; DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw; Georgia Department of Community Affairs Multifamily Construction Service Manager Sherrie Potter; Prestwick Construction Company Senior Project Manager Mike Sims; and HDC VP of Development Keri Taylor-Spann.  Photo provided…

CONYERS, GA – On Monday, Nov. 1, Rockdale Emergency Relief (RER), 350 Tall Oaks Drive SE, received a donation of food and goods valued at $5,000 from the local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Conyers, GA. Members of the local congregation, Rick Ingram and Timothy Mitchell, picked up the food from the Bishop’s Storehouse in Tucker and delivered the commodities to Rockdale Emergency Relief that afternoon. The Bishop’s Storehouse in Tucker is one of many regional facilities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that are available to provide for…