Author: On Common Ground News

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…

Update: Due to expected cinclement weather, the meeting date has changed to Dec. 12, from 1 – 4 p.m. LITHONIA—Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance(AMHAA) will host its second community engagement session to determine the future of the historic Bruce Street School site, DeKalb County’s first public school for blacks. The outdoor, drop-in meeting will be held on Sunday, Dec. 11, 1- 4 p.m., at the former school site, 2449 Bruce St., Lithonia. The three-hour drop-in session will feature several activities to gain community feedback on how the ruins of the former school might be preserved as a historic…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Gwinnett County Planning and Development will hold a job fair on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in Lawrenceville. The job fair will be held in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Conference Center (second floor), 75 Langley Drive. Masks are recommended but not required. The department wants to fill several positions including code enforcement, inspections and planning. During the event, applicants can discuss career opportunities with the department’s staff and interview for posted positions. Job hopefuls are encouraged to apply online for the positions listed on GCGA.us/PandDJobFair before Dec. 8. Gwinnett County offers competitive benefits, paid training,…

ATLANTA—Former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams announced her campaign for Governor today (Dec. 1). In conjunction with the announcement, Abrams released a video titled One Georgia focusing on her campaign. The video, narrated by Abrams, features images of Georgians from across the state and outlines Abrams’ efforts over the last four years to build a “stronger Georgia.” From her fierce advocacy for voting rights, to supplying food banks during the pandemic, to eliminating medical debt for tens of thousands of Georgians, Abrams discusses her dedication to delivering for Georgia. “Opportunity and success in Georgia shouldn’t be determined by your zip…

FULTON COUNTY, GA—The Fulton County Library System, in collaboration with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Foundation, announced, One Book, One Read a county-wide book club with the aim of getting as many people across reading, talking about and engaging with the same book. The goal is to promote critical conversations, community building and literacy all while having fun with your friends, family and neighbors. The Library System’s first ever One Book, One Read program will begin with Caste: The Origins of OurDiscontents by Isabel Wilkerson. The book’s core resides in comparisons between the caste system in India, the American race system, and the rise of…