Author: On Common Ground News

185,000 Georgia voters urged to check registration status   DECATUR, GA—DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections has mailed 18,000 “no-contact” notices to individuals who have not had contact with the elections system in the last five years. This is a statewide effort that is required of all elections offices. Voters who receive these notices are encouraged to immediately update their voter registration information ahead of the 30-day deadline to prevent being listed as “inactive” in the state’s voter rolls. Inactive voters have all the rights and privileges of an active voter through the next two general elections in 2022 and 2024.…

  The DeKalb County Board of Education on Aug. 9 approved the consolidated budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. DeKalb County School District (DCSD) proposed a $2.02 billion budget for all funds including the General Fund (operating budget) of $1.196 billion. The General Fund budget provides in excess of $836 million (70 percent) directly to schools with enrollment forecasted at above 97,000 students. The budget includes significant funding from the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and American Recovery Plan Act funds (CARES/ESSER) II & III of $452 million, which is available through Sept. 30,…

ATLANTA, GA — Attorney General Chris Carr announced the indictment this week of 14 gang members of the Nine Trey Bloods, a Georgia subset of a Los Angeles gang in a case involving the human trafficking of children. Each defendant could face more than 100 years in prison, if convicted, according to Carr’s office. The Office of the Attorney General alleges that the defendants operated a labor-intensive human trafficking ring under the guise of a fraudulent charity known as Georgia Peach Youth Club of America Inc. in order to fund criminal street gang activity. The alleged criminal…

Kickoff set Aug. 21 at Wade Walker Park   DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs is partnering with Netball America-Be An Inspiration GoGirlGo! Atlanta to provide a program that will teach the skills of the globally popular sport of netball and enhance athletic fundamentals while participating in fun leadership and empowerment activities. The county will kick off the program on Aug. 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Wade Walker Park, 5585 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain. Mark your calendar to attend this fun-filled free event that will include an exhibition game of netball, coaches training, free giveaways, and…

DECATUR, GA–The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections will hold a special called meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 18, at 4:30 p.m. The meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). Simultaneous public access to the meeting will be available via livestream on DCTV’s UStream channel https://video.ibm.com/channel/dctv-channel-23. To make a comment, join via Zoom at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/97184078303  or by phone at 1-888-270-9936 and use conference code 171493.  Public comments of two minutes or less may be made live via the teleconference. For those joining the meeting by telephone, please be aware that phone numbers may be displayed to the…

The Georgia River Network is hosting introductory kayak classes in August and September to help train new paddlers who are finding their way to Georgia’s rivers as an outdoor escape from the pandemic. Recent increases in paddlesports participation have also resulted in increases in accidents and fatalities. Georgia River Network wants to help paddlers enjoy the state’s waterways more safely and for many years to come. Introduction to Kayaking (Lake)                        Aug. 15 Galt’s Ferry Landing at Lake Allatoona $50 per person + optional kayak rental https://garivers.org/paddle-georgia/lake-paddling-class/ Introduction to River Kayaking (Class I River) Septe. 12 Lower…

ELLENWOOD, GA–Planet Fitness, known for its high-quality fitness experience, affordable prices and  non-intimidating environment called the Judgement Free Zone®, will host a grand opening celebration at its new Ellenwood Club on Monday, Aug.16, 4 – 6 p.m., 2800 East Atlanta Road. The center will host the ribbon cutting ceremony with the Henry County Chamber of Commerce  at 5:30 p.m. The community is invited to enjoy refreshments, special giveaways, music provided by DJ Maria More from Majic 107.5/97.5 and the chance to win prizes such as a 55-inch television. Guests can also take a tour of the club, meet with Planet Fitness team members and…

pp

DECATUR, GA –Bring your lunch and join author Quaye Reed for a one-hour talk about her journey of transforming a newspaper column into a book about the outstanding African-American women of Yalobusha County, Mississippi.  The Lunch & Learn will be held on Aug. 31, noon to 1 p.m., at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, Second Floor, 101 E. Court St., Decatur. It’s free. The journey includes an emphasis on oral history, and the formation of an oral history collective that would eventually help to create the book.  “Outstanding Black Women of Yalobusha County:  Their stories and contributions to…