Author: On Common Ground News

Pictured: (Top L-R)Commissioners Mereda Davis Johnson and Larry Johnson Pictured: (Bottom L-R) Commissioners Nancy Jester and Jeff Rader  DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson introduces racism resolution. Debate begins at 20:26. The racial conflict between blacks and whites was illuminated last week as DeKalb County District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson introduced a proposed resolution to declare “racism a public health crisis.” Commissioners Larry Johnson and Mereda Davis Johnson, who are black and are not related, squared off in a heated exchange with Commissioners Jeff Rader and Nancy Jester, who are white, during the Employee Relations and Public Safety Committee (EARPS) meeting…

City Council Meeting Join us for a city council meeting Monday (July 13) at 7:00 p.m. Residents have the option of joining the meeting in person at city hall or viewing it live on the city’s YouTube channel. Social distancing policies will be in place for everyone attending the meeting at city hall. Date: Monday, July 13, 2020 Time: 7 p.m. View full details on council meeting webpage: https://www.stonecrestga.gov/CityCouncilMeetings.aspx View meeting documents: City Council Agenda Council Agenda Packet Work Session Agenda Public Hearing Agenda View website calendar: https://www.stonecrestga.gov/CityCalendar.aspx?CNID=4072 View live meeting on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3rYzHzhZvd9Y7Ruf1O6kg Submit public comments in person…

ATLANTA—As family members prepare to lay 8-year-old Secoriea Turner to rest this week, they are calling on the public to help them find the individuals who are responsible for the child’s death. Secoriea’s parents, Charmaine Turner and Secoriey Williamson, will hold a virtual press conference at 11 a.m. today (July 13) with their attorneys. Secoriea was tragically shot on July 4 as she and her mother sat in a car near the Wendy’s restaurant, which has been the site of demonstrations held by protestors calling for justice for Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old black man who was fatally shot…

Story Updated July 13. The community is mourning the sudden passing of Jamie Baldwin, Rockdale County High School’s head football and track and field coach. Baldwin passed away suddenly on Saturday, July 11. He was 45. Baldwin reportedly died from bronchitis. The high school’s principal, Dr. Eldridge Powell, expressed the deep loss for the community on the school’s web site: “Incredibly emotional day for Dawg Nation, as we lose one of the best. An absolute gentle giant, full of class – a great role model for our kids. Impossible to come up with words to describe our sadness. RIP Captain…

Conyers, Ga. – Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is offering a full-time virtual learning option for the 2020-21 school year.  Parents of children in grades K-5 will be able to apply for the virtual option July 10 – July 24, 2020.  Parents of middle and high school students are asked to indicate their desire to participate in full-time virtual learning through an interest survey during the same two weeks, July 10 – July 24, 2020.  Details and links to both the application and the survey are on our website www.rockdaleschools.org.    Elementary parents who desire the full-time virtual learning option will apply…

Kingdom Stand Up has announced that it is cancelling its gospel concert, which was scheduled to take place in Conyers in August. “It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to postpone our event this year due to the coronavirus,” organizers said in a statement. “Our focus is to make sure we all remain safe during this unprecedented time.”

LITHONIA—The 8th annual Parade of Hats, which was rescheduled for August at St. Paul AME Worship Center in Lithonia, will not be held due to the coronavirus pandemic. Joyce Reid, who has served as event planner for the event since its inception, said the luncheon was first cancelled this spring after state-mandated shutdowns across Georgia. With a new wave of virus cases on the rise in Georgia, Reid said she was forced to cancel the event again. The annual event celebrates spring with a fashion show of hats and provides scholarships for graduating students in the…

The city of Stonecrest is launching an investigation into the permitting of a Metro Green recycling plant in an effort to stop the construction of the project. The project has raised strong opposition from angry residents who say it would pose a health hazard, have a negative environmental impact and lower property values. The Stonecrest City Council approved a motion to launch  the probe in a 6-0 vote at a special called meeting last night (July 9). The council agreed to have Councilmembers Rob Turner and Jimmy Clanton, along with City Planning Director Chris Wheeler and the law firm of…