Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA –Attorney General Chris Carr has joined a 14-state coalition of attorneys general in sending a letter to U.S. Senate leaders opposing a pro-union bill. The Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021 (PRO Act) would negate state right-to-work laws and require workers to pay union dues in order to keep their jobs. “Georgia is a right-to-work state, and we have long preserved the ability of employees to speak for themselves, make informed decisions and work without being forced to pay fees to third parties,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “The PRO Act will impair…

The program funds quick-action projects; Application deadline is April 14   ATLANTA—AARP Georgia invites community organizations and local governments across the state to apply for the 2021 Community Challenge grant program, now through April 14. Grants fund quick-action projects that can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to several thousand or tens of thousands for larger projects. Now in its fifth year, the grant program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for people of all ages. “We…

    Jacobs provided the following news release on April 9, 2021 regarding staff changes in the City of Stonecrest: STONECREST, Ga. (April 8, 2021) – As part of our continuous efforts to provide exceptional services to the residents and businesses of Stonecrest, the City has several new members. The City’s operations are delivered through a collaborative partnership with Jacobs. Jacobs provides the staffing for various functions in Stonecrest including code enforcement, parks and recreation, and planning services. Jacobs has created several new positions for the Stonecrest team that the Council has approved and who are now available to serve…

The service for Ann Brown will be held on  Monday, April 12, 2021, 1 p.m., at  Christ The Lord Church of Atlanta, 3760 Glenwood Road Decatur, GA 30032, Pastor Earl Caruthers  officiating. Ms. Brown will be laid to rest at Kennedy Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 2500 River Rd. Ellenwood, GA. A repass will be held at Christ The Lord Church of Atlanta. Donald Trimble Mortuary,1876 Second Ave. Decatur  is handling the funeral arrangements. 404-370-1994.

Heavily-trafficked roadways in South DeKalb to be targeted   DECATUR, GA –This weekend, DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will launch her annual litter initiative in which volunteers will clean up several stretches of heavily-trafficked roadways. The DeKalb County District 7 Corridor Cleanup Initiative will kick off Saturday, April 10, 9 a.m., and will focus on cleaning up Panola Road, between Covington Highway and Thompson Mill Road. Volunteers are asked to meet at 2695 Panola Road, Stonecrest. “During the first year of my term in office, I launched a litter cleanup project with local civic organizations,” said Cochran-Johnson. “Seeing…

The city of Stonecrest is undergoing sweeping changes in its administration reassigning key positions including acting city manager, deputy city manager, city clerk, communications director, planning director and finance director, just to name a few. Although Jacobs Engineering (formerly CH2MHill Engineers), which maintains the contract to hire most of the city’s employees, has not formally announced the new appointments, employees who had previously held those positions no longer can be reached by city e-mail accounts or city cell phones. Some staff members also apparently have shared to members of the public that they are no longer serving…

Celebrate wellness and learn how to create a healthier lifestyle for you and your family by attending the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Stone Mountain Lithonia Virtual Health Fair on Saturday, April 17,  10 a.m. – 2pm. Themed “Re-Set & Recharge: Mind, Body and Soul”, the free health fair will feature information, events and prizes for adults and children.  After a year of sheltering in place, virtual learning and social distancing, participants can log in and participate in activities that will also help them learn about healthy living through nutrition, exercise, mental well-being, physical well-being and the Coronavirus…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—A 31-year-old man was killed in a head-on collision by a driver traveling in the wrong direction on I-285 near Flat Shoals Parkway, the DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) said today (April 8). The impact triggered a chain reaction, causing the man to crash into a third car, but authorities said the victim in the third car is expected to be all right. The deceased victim was identified as Kevin Fitzpatrick of Newnan. An adult female who is believed to have caused the accident was transported to a local hospital. She is listed in critical condition,…