Author: On Common Ground News

State Rep. Karen Bennett, District 94, in partnership with Redan Park Association, will once again host the Back to School Zone Sports Physicals for students ages 5 to 17 who are seeking to play recreational team sports this fall. The annual event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to noon, at Redan Recreation Center, 1839 Philips Road, Lithonia. Students must be pre-registered in order to receive the sports physicals. A limited number of free sports physicals will be provided by a volunteer Board Certified doctor and volunteer nurses who will be available at the event.…

OBITUUARY Father James Stephen Behrens, OCSO, a monk at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Rockdale County, died on Thursday, Aug. 15, at the hospital as a result of complications from a lung biopsy procedure. A monk of 25 years and a priest of 45 years, he served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark for over 20 years before entering the monastery in 1994. Father James was 71 years old when the Lord called him. Fr James is the author of six books; two of them containing collections of photographs, each captivating image…

Rockdale County Public Schools Teachers of the Year for 2019-2020 pictured (left to right): Back Row – Michael Zellous (Open Campus), Reginald Jacobs (Rockdale County High), Janareau Murray (Pine Street Elementary), Natasha Belle (Memorial Middle), Josh Kammerer (Shoal Creek Elementary), Chris Anglin (Rockdale Career Academy). Middle Row – Vita Reed (Edwards Middle), Nabulungi Bolton-Johnson (Alpha Academy), Divya Kharod (C.J. Hicks Elementary), Precious Moon (Hightower Trail Elementary), Beth Withers (Salem High), Francoise Scott (Gen. Ray Davis Middle), Tracee Smith (Honey Creek Elemenary), Dametria Williams (Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology), Cynthia Siren (Peek’s Chapel Elementary). Front Row – Kimberly Tomlinson…

ATLANTA – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is warning the public of a scam targeting the elderly for “free” genetic testing to gain their personal and financial information. “We are becoming increasingly concerned about this scam which is making its way throughout Georgia,” said Carr. “Unfortunately, victims taken in by this scheme are often providing sensitive personal information, including insurance and financial information, that could be misused in a number of ways. We want Georgians to be aware that we are seeing more and more of this activity, so they can spot the warning signs and share this…

Significantly high cancer rates reported in 30014 ZIP Code COVINGTON—Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) today sent letters to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state Environmental Protection Division (EPD) demanding answers as to why his constituents in Covington were not informed about a dangerous chemical being released into the community’s air. Johnson is calling for the agencies to conduct independent testing at the BD Bard plant, which sterilizes medical equipment. The plant, Johnson said, is releasing ethylene oxide – a chemical the EPA says causes cancer. Johnson’s letters come on the heels of an Aug. 1 community meeting that…

Georgia’s child support director will soon begin her term as the new president of the National Child Support Enforcement Association’s (NCSEA) Board of Directors. Tanguler Gray, director of the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Child Support Services, received the ceremonial gavel at the association’s annual meeting on Aug. 13 in Minneapolis. Gray’s one-year term as president will begin Sept. 1. “As Georgia’s child support services director, Tanguler has been on the forefront of implementing innovative ideas and programs to empower parents to support their children,” said DHS Commissioner Robyn A. Crittenden. “I am so proud…

ATLANTA—In a joint hearing on Aug. 14, the Georgia House and Senate Judiciary Committees unanimously confirmed Walter “Walt” Davis to serve as Georgia’s first Statewide Business Court Judge. Gov. Brian P. Kemp nominated Davis to lead the new court, created through passage of a 2018 constitutional amendmentand codified through legislationearlier this year. Davis serves as the administrative partner in the Atlanta law firm of Jones Davis,overseeing a wide range of operational and financial matters including securities litigation, shareholder disputes, and corporate governance matters. “I commend the leadership of House Judiciary Chairman Barry Fleming, Senate Judiciary Chairman Jesse Stone, and committee…

DeKalb County law enforcement officials and the U.S. Marshals Service have captured 27-year-old murder suspect Otis Walker. Walker had been on the run since Aug. 1. DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, DeKalb County Police and the U.S. Marshals Service worked together to arrest Walker on Thursday night (Aug. 8) at a location on Panola Road, according to authorities. Walker is accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend, Aleka Simmons, and then opening fire on DeKalb County police officers responding to the domestic disturbance. The incident happed at a home on Hodgon Corners Cove in the Stonecrest area.  Walker ambushed…

Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst presents transit feasibility updates to ATL Board ATLANTA – The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board of Directors adopted the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Regional Formula Fund policies for the Atlanta Urbanized Area (UZA). The policies will now proceed to the Atlanta Regional Commission for their approval. The FTA Regional Formula Fund policies provide details for how FTA formula funding is distributed throughout the 23-county Atlanta UZA and largely mirrors the national formula used by FTA. By adopting these policies, the ATL and ARC together are establishing an equitable and transparent process for how FTA…

The Rockdale Democrats will host Rockdale Tax Commissioner Tisa Smart Washington as its special guest on Aug. 12, 7 to 9 p.m., at Los Charros North restaurant, 1965 Highway 138 N.E., Conyers. Washington said she will be discussing new initiatives coming out of the tax commissioner’s office and providing updates on the upcoming tax season and motor vehicle registration. Attendees will have a chance to ask her questions as well.