Author: On Common Ground News

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Decatur-DeKalb Chapter, Inc. will host the Mayoral and Georgia State Senate and City Council Candidates’ Forum on Thursday, Sept. 26, 6 p.m., at Lithonia City Hall, 6920 Main Street, Lithonia. Dometrice “Dee” Clemmons will serve as moderator for the forum. Clemmons, elected in 2016 as the first African-American woman on the Henry County Board of Commissioners, is a former middle school teacher, strategist and founder of She Steams, a coalition of women entrepreneurs striving to educate, empower, and enlighten the next generation. A native of Atlanta, Clemmons is a Spelman College graduate. Lithonia, Decatur…

Early registration for the fourth annual DeKalb County Breast Cancer Awareness 5K Run/Walk is now open. On Saturday, Oct. 19, DeKalb County, along with Susan G. Komen and Northlake Mall, will host the event at 9 a.m., at Northlake Mall, 4800 Briarcliff Rd. NE., Tucker. The route begins and ends at the mall and also features a one-mile fun run. Through Sept. 13, registration for the 5K and one-mile fun run/walk is $5 for DeKalb County employees and $10 for non-employees. After Sept. 13, the price increases to $10 for DeKalb County employees and $20 for non-employees. Registration includes…

Reckless Abandon will perform rock’n roll classics as the finale act of Rockdale County’s Rockin’ Rockdale Summer Concert Series on Sept. 29, 6 to 8 p.m., at Costley Mill Park. The free outdoor concert series, held on the last Sunday of the month, kicked off on June 30. The series offered live music from local well-known artists featuring jazz, R&B, rock and classic hits. Concert-goers may bring their own food and beverages, although alcohol is prohibited. There will be food trucks, beverages, and fun activities for children in the Kids Zone from 5 to 6 p.m. before the concert…

Take a tour and get to know the architecture of Decatur’s surrounding neighborhood. Spanning from 1830-1965, the homes and buildings chosen sport different floor plans, house styles, and architectural styles. Designed for history lovers and architecture buffs alike, each stop will be followed up by a detailed account of the interior design, architectural elements, and associated history. This tour is outdoors with a total walking distance of about one mile, and lasts about 90 minutes. The tour will start and end at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur. Tour dates and times: October 2, 5:30 – 7:00…

Rockdale County Board of Commissioners will host the county’s student Talent Development Program: Shadow Day on Thursday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free program provides high school and college students the chance to explore careers and jobs up close while exposing students to networking opportunities and receive tips on how to enter the workforce. Lunch, snacks and official Rockdale “Swag” item also will be provided to participants. Registration deadline for the program is Sept. 30. Register online at https://stdpshadowday2019.eventbrite.com or select the Shadow Day 2019 link on the county website: www.rockdalecountyga.gov For more information, contact Teesha Carter…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will celebrate the 17th semester of its Parent Academy on Saturday, Sept. 21, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 Culpepper Road, Conyers. The free, half-day event offers classes for parents, teens and tweens. Online registration is available at www.rockdaleschools.org/parentacademy. Paper registration forms are available at each RCPS school. The day kicks off with keynote speaker, Superintendent Terry Oatts, and interactive, roundtable discussions. Parents and the public are invited to participate. Class topics range from financial planning to trending apps and parental controls, creating art, improving computer skills, CPR, helping your…

Stonecrest City Councilman George Turner will host his District 4 Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m., at Big Miller Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 3800 Big Miller Grove Way, Stonecrest. The agenda will include the following subjects: Economic Development-New Director, new direction District 4 Overlay protection 2020 Census and You SPLOST Update The community is invited and encouraged to attend.

Pictured Suspect Aaron Frank Rockdale sheriff’s deputy arrested for sexual contact with inmate A Rockdale County Sheriff’s deputy, Aaron Frank, has been arrested on improper sexual contact with a female inmate at the Rockdale County Jail. Frank was arrested and charged after confessing to have sexual contact with the inmate inside the women’s annex laundry facility, Sheriff’s spokesman Lee A. Thomas said in a news release. The Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division was notified of the assault on Sept. 6. The incident was alleged to have occurred on Aug. 28 or Aug. 29. CID Investigators spoke with…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. Unit today apprehended and arrested Lenell Ledarius Ross, 26, of Tucker on a charge of felony murder. According to a warrant issued on Sept. 8, Ross fatally shot Carlos Williams on Clarke Drive in Tucker on Sept. 7, 2019. DeKalb sheriff’s investigators located Ross in the vicinity of Hambrick Road and Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain, where he was taken into custody by the sheriff’s office S.W.A.T. Unit without incident and transported to the DeKalb County Jail.

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is holding its final public hearing this evening  to seek input on proposed options to address E-SPLOST budget and a proposed general obligation (GO) bond estimated at $222 to $265 million. The meeting, which will be held Sept. 10, 7 p.m., at Lakeside High School, will mark the fifth that the district has held to gain comment from the public. Stakeholders are being asked to consider approving a general obligation (“GO”) bond referendum to complete the school improvement and construction projects to make up for the increase in construction costs exceeding the E-SPLOST budget. A…