Author: On Common Ground News

The Rockdale Clerk of Courts and the Conyers-Rockdale Library is hosting another Law Topic Speaker Series on Saturday, March 7, 10:30 a.m. to noon, at the Nancy Guinn Memorial Library, 864 Green Street S.W., Conyers. Attorney Gary Washington will present “Act Like a Citizen, Think Like a Cop: Know Your Rights” in the library’s meeting room on the ground floor. Washington will speak on traffic stops, pedestrian stops, searches, automobile searches, police home visits, questioning, interrogations and arrests. Learn how to interact with law enforcement while protecting your rights. This program is free…

Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. will host this year’s first “Shop Talk” forum on Saturday, March 21, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., at F&D Barbershop, 1501 Highway 138 S.E., Conyers.

The first event in this year’s series will feature the following speakers to address their questions and concerns: Commissioner Sherri Washington, Post 1 Clerk of Superior and State Courts Ruth Wilson Phinia Aten, Chief Magistrate Judge Shop Talk is a grassroots forum held at local barbershops and beauty salons to introduce government officials to those who may not know who they…

The Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts will present Preschool Pops: Butterfly Ballad on Thursday, March 12, 10 – 11 a.m., at the Rockdale Auditorium, 903 N Main Street NW, Conyers. This Preschool Popschildren’s presentation will include a performance by the Atlanta Puppeteers Piccadilly Puppets entitled, “Butterfly Ballad.” Developed originally for the Callaway Gardens Butterfly Center, this story follows Katy and Kevin Caterpillar through the stages of their lives – from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly – and their fascinating migration to Mexico, narrated by Mother Nature. Tickets are $4 at the…

More than 400 participants attended the Congressman Hank Johnson’s Restoration Resources Fair at Georgia Piedmont Technical College on Feb. 20. The fair was held to help ex-offenders find a job, receive healthcare, food assistance and get a review of their criminal record. “This event, which built off previous resource fairs we’ve held, is a community effort to help break the cycle of recidivism and poverty and help make those who have been previously incarcerated more productive, healthy citizens,” said Congressman Johnson. “I am especially grateful to all our vendors who came out and our special guests…

The Gwinnett County Solicitor’s Office is hosting a Restriction Summit (Expungement) for misdemeanors March 20, 4 to 8 p.m., at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. In order to have the criminal record reviewed for restriction, the applicant must meet the following criteria: Arrested in Gwinnett County jurisdiction Must not be convicted/found guilty at trial Did NOT plead guilty/no lo contendere Certain misdemeanors while under the age of 21 Completed a Pre-Trial Diversion Program Completed “First Offender” case Those interested in participating must pre-register and provide their information and consent to pull their…

Congressman Hank Johnson’s (GA-04) office has nominated 20 students to attend a U.S. Service Academy: Military Academy (West Point), Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy and the ROTC Congressional Scholarship Initiative. The Congressman also honored two Fourth District veterans who served their country and home and abroad during a reception on Feb. 18 at Stone Mountain’s Art Station. The Congressman’s office will announce official service academy appointments between May and June. Every year, members of Congress nominate students to attend the nation’s military academies. Nominees who are accepted into the academies…

The UGA Extension Office, in conjunction with the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners and Rockdale County Public Schools, is hosting the Teen B.E.A.M.S. event on Thursday, March 12, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 Culpepper Drive S.W., Conyers. B.E.A.M.S., which stands for Building Education Around Mental Services, is a program that offers mental health support to teens and is an opportunity for them to learn how to take care of themselves and their friends, build healthy habits, raise mental health awareness, and connect with caring adults…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan Clergy from throughout Rockdale County flocked to the Pastors Table forum hosted by Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. on Feb. 24 at Coaxum’s restaurant in Conyers. The event, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary, brought together local leaders and clergy to dine and discuss the future trajectory of Rockdale. Pastors and politicians sat side by side to participate in strategic planning while enjoying a Southern buffet of baked and fried chicken, grilled salmon, green beans, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, garden salad and sweet potato muffins. Nesbitt thanked the…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD31d1wyB5w&feature=youtu.be The Stonecrest City Council approved a tax anticipation note (TAN) for $3,060,000 during the Feb. 26 special called city council meeting for the purchase of the Sam’s Club off Turner Hill Road.  The meeting was held so that the financing could be finalized in time for the real estate closing scheduled for Tuesday, March 3. City officials plan to pay off the note with proceeds from an upcoming bond to be authorized by the city’s newly formed Urban Redevelopment Agency. The cost of the tax anticipation note and the closing costs, approximately $75,000, must be paid for by the…

By Valerie J. Morgan As the nation celebrates Black History Month, the city of Lithonia is honoring a trailblazer of its own in February. The Lithonia Post Office has a new Postmaster General: Sukisha Kilgore, who was sworn in on Feb. 15 as the first woman to hold the position since the Lithonia facility opened 71 years ago in 1949. She is the ninth postmaster to serve the city and at the helm, Kilgore oversees 120 employees. Terry Clemons, manager of Post Office Operations, administered the oath of…