Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Cooperative Extension will host a “Garden Trends” class on Sept. 12, 6:45 to 8:30 p.m., at the DeKalb County Extension Office Auditorium, located at 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur. Attendees will learn what’s hot and on trend in home and public gardens. The class is $10 per person. To register, contact the DeKalb County Cooperative Extension Office at 404-298-4080.

On Saturday, Sept. 14, the Pride of Conyers #578 Masons and Rockdale County will host a men’s health fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Piedmont Rockdale Hospital (classrooms 1,2, and 3), 1412 Milstead Ave. NE, Conyers. The fair will feature health screenings, veteran services, a chiropractor, massages, a healthy cooking demonstration, healthy shopping, athletic activities and more. The event is free but RSVPs are appreciated for planning purposes. To RSVP, visit https://menshealthfair2019.eventbrite.com or for more information, call the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Office at 770-278-7001.

 “I am leaving a job I love because my health challenges are taking their toll on me, my family and my staff. ” — Johnny Isakson   Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson says he plans to resign from office on Dec. 31 due to failing health. Once Isakson vacates the seat, Gov. Brian Kemp said he will make a temporary appointment until a special election is held in November 2020. The Georgia senator has three years unexpired on his term. The 74-year-old, who has Parkinson’s disease, said in a statement today that he is dealing with mounting health issues, and…

By Valerie J. Morgan STONECREST, GA—Former City Councilwoman Diane Adoma has lost Round 1 in her challenge to Georgia’s Constitution, but she remains undeterred, despite a judge’s ruling against her this week. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Mark Anthony Scott on Monday denied Adoma’s request for an emergency injunction to keep her seat while she seeks the office of mayor. Judge Scott stated in his ruling that Adoma’s seat was vacated when she qualified to run for Mayor of the City of Stonecrest as mandated in Article II, Section II, Paragraph V of the Georgia Constitution. Adoma, however,…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will wrap up its series of public input meetings in September on proposed options to address changes in the E-SPLOST budget due to construction costs increases. District officials presented the proposed options to the Board of Education on July 8. A key part of the proposed options is a potential referendum to approve a general obligation (“GO”) bond issue to complete the current E-SPLOST program and to complete additional projects to address urgent facility needs. The bond would range between $222 million and $265 million, officials said. The district held public meetings at…

  By Valerie J. Morgan STONECREST, GA—Former City Council woman Diane Adoma turned in her City Hall keys today, but vowed to keep her seat on the City Council even as city officials  took out a restraining order against her. Adrion Bell, the city’s Communications Director, said Adoma gave him the city’s keys around noon at the radio station WAOK, where he and Adoma  were invited by talk show host Rashad Richey to discuss Adoma’s challenge to the Georgia Constitution. Elections supervisor Megan Reid participated in the interview by calling in. After the radio interview with Bell, Adoma…

The Stonecrest City Council on Monday unanimously approved the qualifying period for the unexpired District 5 council seat. Qualifying for the seat, formerly held by Diana Adoma, will be held on Sept. 3-5, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., at City Hall, 3120 Stonecrest Blvd. Adoma is running for the office of mayor. The qualifying fee is $450 for the council seat. The special election will go on the same ballot for the upcoming municipal elections that will be held in DeKalb County. Advanced and absentee voting begins Oct. 15. The General Election…

    By Mark Brock DCSD Athletics Specialists  Former Redan Raider state championship coach Marvin Pruitt passed away over the weekend after a hard fought battle against several medical ailments. The winningest DeKalb County baseball coach in history at 447-252-3 in stops at Lakeside, Stephenson, Southwest DeKalb and Redan high schools fought like he expected his players to play and in his usual quiet way with that big smile most people remembered after meeting him. A stint coaching at Rockdale County in the late 80’s helped add up to a career record of 510-333-6. He coached the…

Council member Cleta Winslow has announced that she is adding $3,000 to the reward money being offered by Crime Stoppers to assist in finding the suspect from the Aug. 20 shooting at the Atlanta University Center. Winslow’s addition brings the total reward to $5,000 for providing pertinent information in identifying the shooter. Four female students who were caught in the crossfire of a fight between two groups were injured as a suspect began firing. Any information given to the Atlanta Police Department is confidential. “Look into your heart and just say ‘I wouldn’t want that to happen to my child,…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has scheduled five public meetings to seek public input on proposed options to address E-SPLOST budget issues arising from an increase in construction costs. The proposed options were presented to the Board of Education on July 8, 2019. A key part of the proposed options is a potential referendum to approve a general obligation (“GO”) bond issue to complete the current E-SPLOST program and to complete additional projects to address urgent facility needs. The size of the bond would be in the range of $222 million to $265 million. The five meetings…