Author: On Common Ground News

STONECREST—The city’s 131,000-square-foot City Hall site, located at 2929 Turner Hill Road, will serve as an early voting precinct for DeKalb County residents, officials announced today(Sept. 22) Mayor Jason Lary said the former Sam’s Club would replace the precinct at the Stonecrest Library for in-person early voting, which will be held Oct. 12-30 for the Nov. 3 General Election. “We will have plenty of room to accommodate voters,” said Lary. “We did a walk-through of the building last Friday (Sept. 18) with elections officials and we’re ready to go.” The City Council approved the use of the former Sam’s Club…

Photos by Kelly Jordan The NAACP DeKalb hosted a “Get-Vote-Ready” rally and voter registration drive at the McDonald’s located in the Kroger shopping plaza on Wesley Chapel Road in Decatur and Turner Hill Road in the city of Stonecrest. The event was held on Sept. 19 just ahead of National Voter Registration Day, which is Sept. 22. NAACP branches in DeKalb, Gwinnett and Clayton counties held the voter registration drives and rallies at six McDonald’s locations. “Too many of our ancestors have shed blood and died for the right to vote and I have made this a…

Pictured L-R: Edwina Clanton, elected chair of the Stonecrest Business Alliance, and Stacey Thibodeaux, elected vice chair. The Stonecrest Business Alliance, Inc. held its Annual General Body Meeting and Board of Directors elections on Sept. 16.  After the general membership elected board members, the newly-installed board elected Edwina Clanton as chair and  Stacey Thibodeaux  as  vice chair. Edwina Clanton is the Broker/Owner of East Metro Brokers.  She serves on the Stonecrest Businss Alliance as a representative of the Parks of Stonecrest, one of the largest residential subdivisions in the City of Stonecrest. She is also president of…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit has arrested a murder suspect in connection with the shooting death of Jamaal Antoine Cobb on Aug. 23 at a Park Drive residence in Lithonia. Lithonia resident Ryan Anson Carter, 35, is being charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Theft by Taking.  According to the arrest warrants, Carter shot Cobb in the leg, causing his death. Carter is also charged with taking cash and the victim’s vehicle. Working with the U.S. Marshals and the DeKalb County Police and DeKalb K9 Unit, DeKalb Sheriff’s investigators took…

Rockdale County Finance Director Roselyn Miller Rockdale County Finance Director Roselyn Miller has been relieved of her duties as of Sept. 4, becoming the fourth director dismissed within a three-month period. Chief of Staff Corey Hambrick will leave on Dec. 31, becoming the fifth departure, Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt confirmed during an interview with On Common Ground News on Sept. 19.        Nesbitt said that while he called for Hambrick’s departure and three others, he did not support firing Miller, whom he said has…

                                                                                      Dec. 6, 1930- Sept. 12, 2020 Family and friends will celebrate the life of Nesby Thomas, Jr., DeKalb County’s first black courtroom bailiff, on Saturday, Sept. 19. Mr. Thomas, who lived in Avondale Estates, passed away on Sept. 12. He was 89. Mr. Thomas was remembered by his son, prominent DeKalb County Attorney Dwight Thomas, who expressed…

The City of Stonecrest’s Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a Youth Entrepreneurship Academy Sept. 26 through December. The academy will be facilitated by Dr. Shatrela Washington-Hubbard, who has owned multiple businesses, directed entrepreneurship programs and currently coaches entrepreneurs. Participants in the academy will attend virtual sessions in which they will receive live instruction and guidance on entrepreneurial concepts. They will learn how to support the development and growth of their business and they will have access to resources and mentors to assist in the process. Participants also will have opportunities to interact with youths who currently run their own…

Ayana Moore, a senior who is in the Class of 202 at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology (RMSST), has successfully completed the rigorous NatStuCo Student Leaders Program. Earning national recognition as a National Student Council Distinguished Student Leader, Moore is one of more than 1,100 students in the nation to achieve this highly sought-after recognition. Moore said she was very excited to receive the recognition. “As a senior, this is a big accomplishment – to know that a national organization has recognized my work,” Moore said. I’m really thankful for Mrs. Powell for helping me along the way to…

ATLANTA –The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (LCCR) Under Law has awarded Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms the Distinguished Civil Rights Advocate Award in recognition of her equity-driven leadership to help guide and protect marginalized communities before and during one of the most tumultuous times in our nation’s history. Named in honor of legendary Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., LCCR’s Higginbotham Corporate Leadership Awards event is one of the largest gatherings in the civil rights and legal community. “Our Administration’s vision for One Atlanta – an affordable, resilient and equitable city—drives each and every decision we make,” said Bottoms.…