Author: On Common Ground News

The focus of this month’s DeKalb Cultural Exchange (DCE) meeting will be a clarion call for volunteerism, said Rob and Vicki B. Turner, founders of DCE. Rob Turner is a councilman for the City of Stonecrest and Vicki Turner is a DeKalb County School Board member. The meeting will be held in collaboration with the DeKalb Branch NAACP on Aug. 10, 9 a.m., on the campus of Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church/House of Hope, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. “We will acknowledge schools in South DeKalb that have benefited from having volunteers on site.  The NAACP will…

Seven churches have begun offering fitness activities and open gym times to the public through agreements with the DeKalb County Board of Health. Health officials said the “shared use agreements” enable the congregations to share their programs and facilities with the public. They give residents opportunities to maintain active, healthy lifestyles at little or no cost. Community members can participate in activities such as Zumba classes, basketball programs, indoor soccer and weight training.  In addition, each location is hosting monthly health-related educational sessions. The Board of Health provides funding to support these efforts. “These partnerships are yet another great way…

S. Elizabeth Ford, MD, who serves as DeKalb County District Health Director and interim Fulton County District Health Director, has been elected vice president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials( NACCHO). NACCHO is the voice of the nation’s nearly 3,000 local governmental health departments. As board vice president, Ford will serve on the Board of Directors’ Executive Committee as vice president in 2019-2020 before assuming the positions of president-elect in 2020-2021 and president in 2021-2022, respectively.  Ford began her first term as an officer on July 1. “I am both honored and excited to have…

The Rockdale County Board of Elections and Registration is looking for a new at-large board member who will also serve as its board chair. The three-member board is comprised of a partisan member from each political party who then appoint a third at-large member. The newly-selected at-large board member will serve a two-year term ending June 30, 2021. Board member responsibilities include the oversight of County elections, discussion of and decisions pertaining to election policies and ongoing communication with the public. Board members are not involved in the day-to-day operations of the Elections Office or in administrative decisions. Georgia Election…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan OCG News Staff Writer Family and friends celebrated the life of Drevon LeBlanc on Thursday, Aug. 1, during a homegoing service at the Divine Mortuary Chapel, 5620 Hillandale Drive, Lithonia. Now, the family is preparing to lay the young man to rest in Battle Creek, Michigan, his family’s hometown. The family has  set up a Gofundme page to help with burial expenses. LeBlanc died on Friday, July 26, while at the barbershop in the Chevron plaza, located at the intersection of South Deshon and S. Stone Mountain-Lithonia roads. He was 21. Hundreds of people packed out…

The 100 Black Men of DeKalb County, Inc. will honor the 2019 high school seniors of its Leadership Academy at its Casino Royale Scholarship Gala on Aug. 10, 7 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, 265 Peachtree St., Atlanta. Casino Royale is the nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser held to support the leadership program, which provides mentoring and extracurricular activities to metro-Atlanta students in grades 6-12 who are enrolled in the program. Dr. Naim Shaheed, who is chairing the event for the fourth year, said that last year, six graduates of the academy received scholarships for college.  The organization is presenting…

Aug. 1 officially marked the city of Stonecrest’s takeover of parks as one of three services, including planning and zoning and code enforcement, mandated under the new city’s charter. The city began renovations at Browns Mill Recreation Center and the process to purchase nine parks that are located in the city from DeKalb County. The city is spending $34,950 for the nine parcels. Previously, the city had discussed purchasing Panola Shoals Park.  City officials decided, however, to package Panola Shoals Park with the Arabia Mountain National Heritage because of the park’s close proximity to Arabia.  Arabia is not a…

The Jamaican Consulate Atlanta Team Members, Honorary Consul Elaine Grant-Bryan and the Jamaican Community Associations & Business cordially invite the community to celebrate Jamaica’s 57th Anniversary of  Independence. The annual Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving in celebration of Jamaica’s Independence will be held on Sunday, Aug. 4, 4:30 p.m., at St. Timothy’s United Methodist Church, 5365 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain. The doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the service Special invited guests are State Rep. Donna McLeod, the Rev. Denzil Holness and the Rev. Jackie Robinson.

A Henry County couple accused of killing their 2-year-old foster child and injuring her sister after months of abuse, has been convicted. Jurors returned guilty verdicts Aug. 1 on charges of felony murder and several other battery offenses against Jennifer Rosenbaum. Her husband, Joseph Rosenbaum, who was charged with second degree murder, aggravated assault and other offenses was convicted as well for his role in the death of Laila Daniel, age 2. The case was assigned by the Attorney General’s Office to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution due to a conflict with the Henry County District Attorney’s…

  A newly-designed garden celebrating Lithonia’s heritage and history has opened to the public. Officials and community members from the City of Lithonia, DeKalb County and the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance gathered recently at the Ruth Carroll Dally Johnson Interpretive Garden, 2564 Wiggins Street, for a ribbon cutting ceremony. “It’s an awesome time to just know that this history of all of the foot soldiers in the City of Lithonia is being preserved. I think this should serve as an example for other communities to store their history so that generations after them will know the sacrifices that were…