Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) Superintendent R. Stephen Green will host his first “On The Scene with Dr. Green” event of the 2019-2020 school year on Thursday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m., Redan Middle School, 1775 Young Road, Lithonia. Dr. Green will give a brief statement about the state of DCSD before answering questions from the audience. Throughout the 2019-2020 school year, Green will host the forums at seven locations. To learn more, visit www.dekalbschoolsga.org/on-the-scene.

DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw will host the Second Annual Veterans Resource Expo event on Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Central DeKalb Senior Center, Mason Mill Park, 1346 McConnell Drive Decatur. Bradshaw, in collaboration with Atlanta VA HealthCare System, AMVETS Post 44, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 91 and Georgia Grace, will provide onsite resources and information about housing, VA benefits, caregiver and legal services, employment and training, mental health, telehealth and women’s wellness programs. AMVET Post 44 and DAV-Chapter 91 will serve hot dogs and hamburgers. Children are welcome to attend with family members. “I…

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 Northlake Mall,4800 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Tucker, 9 a.m. 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 access to…

DECATUR—Aportion of Flat Shoals Road will be will be closed for two days to complete the installation of a concrete pole. The road closures will occur on Flat Shoals Road, between Brannen Road SE and Clinton Church Road SE, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., from Wednesday, Sept. 4, to Thursday, Sept. 5. Road closure and detour signs will be placed in the area to advise motorists of traffic restrictions. For more information, contact the DeKalb County Roads and Drainage Department at 404-294-2878.

DECATUR—Westbury Drive, between Valley Brook Road and Cool Hollow Drive, will be closed to through-traffic on Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., due to tree removal. Residents living in the neighborhood will have access during the closure. Road closure and detour signs will be placed in the area to advise motorists of traffic restrictions. For more information, contact the DeKalb County Roads and Drainage Department at 404-294-2878.

By George Chidi I’m saying her name aloud, again, and that’s half the problem. Elections are not won by a candidate who can make most people happy. They’re won by someone who can make a small number of people angry enough to pay attention. Consider the madness of Diane Daniels Adoma, former city councilwoman of Stonecrest. I say former because the Georgia state constitution says she surrendered her seat when she signed up to run for mayor last week. She is pretending that the law that vacated her seat doesn’t apply to her. Like … nope. “I didn’t…

  By Ed Williams      MARTA’S illegal sales tax extension is headed to the Supreme Court.   A notice of appeal was filed on Aug. 26 in Fulton County Superior Court: Edward Williams v. MARTA. The primary causes of action raised in this complaint concern the unlawful extension of sales taxes without a referendum with regards to the 5th, 8th, 11th, and 12thamendments of the MARTA 1971 Rapid Transit Contract Assistance and Agreement (RTCAA). MARTA and the local jurisdictions did not have the legal authority to levy a sales tax without a referendum. The original terms of the RTCAA…

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Clarence F. Seeliger this morning ruled in favor of the City of Stonecrest, which sought a restraining order against former City Councilwoman Diane Adoma barring her from City Hall offices, executive chambers and the dais at City Hall. Adoma had refused to vacate her seat as a city councilmember since qualifying to run on Aug. 23 for mayor. Adoma refused to return city property immediately after qualifying as mandated by Georgia’s Constitution, Article II, Section II, Paragraph V, saying she believes the Constitution is unfair and she believes she should be able to keep…

STONECREST— Mayor Jason Lary is encouraging the public to join him, city staffers and community leaders at a special brunch celebrating the reopening of Arizona’s Steakhouse on Sunday, Sept. 1, 1:30 p.m. The Stonecrest restaurant recently closed for a few days after a failed health inspection. However, it resurfaced two weeks ago with a near perfect score.  As a part of Arizona’s new commitment to excellence, the restaurant owners announced on Tuesday that they are under new management. The mayor said he wants Stonecrest citizens to know that the city and its community partners are supporting Arizona’s.  As a…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) invites all young readers to join Bobbi and Hootdini the Owl on adventures through children’s literature. DeKalb Schools TV (DSTV) is pleased to debut the pilot episode of “The Magic Library,” the station’s newest program for the 2019-2020 school year. This read-along series will inspire students to embrace the joy of reading books, as well as social and emotional wellness. The target audience for “The Magic Library” is pre-kindergarten through third-grade students, but all are invited to join Hootdini the Reading Owl and his energetic narrator, Bobbi, as they discuss such topics as historic public figures, kindness,…