Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections is reminding residents to mark their calendars to remember several upcoming dates related to the special election, general election and other important deadlines. “Whether you are a first-time voter, someone interested in becoming a registered voter or exploring your voting options, we want to share some key dates to ensure DeKalb County residents are aware of both the special election to fill the term of the late Congressman John Lewis and the General Election in November,” said Erica Hamilton, DeKalb County elections director. “With concerns around COVID-19, we want to ensure voters…

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners welcomed Clerk of Courts-Elect Janice Morris to the board’s meeting on Sept. 22. Board of Commissioners’ Chairman Oz Nesbitt acknowledged Morris, allowing her to speak briefly during public comments. Morris told the board that she is looking forward to serving the citizens of Rockdale, saying she would remain approachable accessible and accountable.  Nesbitt said that Rockdale’s newly-elected and re-elected officials will be sworn in on Dec. 29, 2 p.m., in a private ceremony. Nesbitt said the public would be able to witness the installations via live stream at rockdalecountyga.gov. The Board of…

A copy of the proposed 2021 Operating Budget for the City of Stonecrest will be available for review on Monday, October 12, 2020. A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held via Zoom on Friday, October 23, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. A link to the meeting will be posted on the City’s website at www.stonecrestga.gov.   Any persons wishing to be heard on the budget may appear and be heard. The City Council will adopt the budget on Monday, November 2, 2020.  The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held via Zoom.

The 2020 DeKalb County School District volleyball season gets underway for the 12 teams participating on Tuesday, Sept.29, following the season opening delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No fans will be allowed to these matches at this time. Chamblee, Druid Hills, Redan and Southwest DeKalb host play dates by entertaining two other DeKalb teams with the matches beginning at 5 pm. Stone Mountain and Stephenson travel to Southwest DeKalb to open their seasons in the three-way match hosted by the Panthers. Southwest DeKalb reached the Class 5A state playoffs a year ago. Stone Mountain moves up from Class 3A…

DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, in partnership with the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority (FDHA), is hosting the second annual Lock-in for Life, a program designed to promote healthy relationships among middle and high school teen males. The three-hour virtual event will be held Friday, Oct. 9, 6 to 9 p.m., and will feature discussions on mentorship, social and mental preparedness, life skills and conflict resolution. Co-hosted by Berean Christian Church and Prevailing Love Worship Center, Lock-in for Life will address the critical needs of DeKalb’s male students and the unique challenges they face. “We are proud to be able to host Lock-in…

SAT scores for Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) increased,  while scores for the state and nation decreased slightly from 2019, state reports show. The mean composite score for RCPS is 994, up from 979. The mean score for Georgia public schools is 1043 and the mean score for U.S. public schools is 1030, with 2019 scores 1048 and 1039 respectively. “We are very pleased with our 2020 graduating seniors’ collective SAT Performance under extraordinary circumstances,” said RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts. “Not even an unprecedented public health crisis can deter our graduating seniors from demonstrating their college and career readiness.  As…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will host the 18th semester of Parent Academy on Saturday, Sept. 26, with world-class courses in a new, virtual format. The free, half-day event offers classes from 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on a variety of topics to help parents find success in these unprecedented times, officials said. To register, please visit www.rockdaleschools.org/parentacademy RCPS Superintendent Dr. Terry Oatts opens the day as the keynote speaker with the “State of the School System” overview. Class topics this year were chosen based on parent feedback. Some of the highlights include: helping my child with virtual school, achieving…

DECATUR – Wheatfields Court, between Royal Bluff and the cul-de-sac, will be closed to through-traffic Wednesday, Sept. 23, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., to facilitate the filming of “Dear Evan Hansen.”        Road closure and detour signs will be placed in the area during the road closure period advising motorists of filming in the area and of local traffic restrictions. Questions regarding the road closure should be addressed to Paola Cambo, key assistant location manager, The Connor Project LLC, at 787-613-3841.  

The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly created pavilion at Frazier Rowe Park, 2886 Lavista Road, Decatur, on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 10 a.m. The pavilion was part of a Community Building Block Grant, which was applied by the Friends of Frazier Rowe Park. The Park Pride Grant was matched by District 2 funds to complete the pavilion project. The public is invited to join park staff and county officials by visiting  DCTVChannel23.tv to view a live stream of the ceremony.

Heavy rainfall from Hurricane Sally on Sept. 17 caused a total of 2.87 million gallons of sewer to spill in DeKalb County at 19 locations, county officials said. The remnants of Hurricane Sally resulted in severe rainfall throughout DeKalb County with 24-hour rainfall totals of between four and six inches recorded throughout much of the county. The intense storm event caused flooding and severe stormwater runoff and ranks among the largest events of the past 10 years. The spills, including a 2.1-million-gallon spill on Meadow Creek Path, was caused by stormwater intrusion into the wastewater system, county officials said. A preliminary…