Author: On Common Ground News

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office will host a women’s self-defense class for ages 13 and up on July 18, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Jail Administration Building, 911 Chambers Drive N.W., Conyers. The class will be held in the Sheriff’s Office Training Room and Multi-Media Room on the second floor of the jail. During the women’s self-defense class, participants will learn how to prevent attacks, the confidence needed to protect themselves, how to use the environment as a defense and how to target the major areas of the body. The women’s self-defense class space is limited to 30 participants.…

DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann has appointed a new second-in-command. Melody M. Maddox was sworn in on July 11 as Chief Deputy Sheriff of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. She fills the position held by Chief Deputy Reginald B. Scandrett, who retired on June 30 after 30 years with the sheriff’s office. Maddox will oversee the management of the agency’s law enforcement operations, including the Field, Courts, Training and Reserves Divisions, and the DeKalb County Jail. A Decatur resident, Chief Deputy Maddox was Chief of Police for Georgia Piedmont Technical College in DeKalb County since 2016. She managed a…

                                                                                                        The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners on July 9 approved CEO Michael Thurmond’s proposed Fiscal Year 2019 midyear budget, which includes property tax relief for homeowners in gentrifying neighborhoods. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the amended midyear budget proposal. “DeKalb County’s property tax relief plan will help mitigate the negative impact of rising home values and property taxes in our rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods,” said CEO Thurmond. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gentrification is defined as the transformation of neighborhoods from low value to high value. Displacement occurs when longtime or original neighborhood residents…

  By Mackenzie N. Morgan | OCG News Staff Writer More than 200 local leaders and citizens of DeKalb participated in a 2020 Census round table at the Maloof Auditorium on July 8. Hosted by Commissioner Larry Johnson, constituents across the board came to learn about the Census and how to make next year’s count, count. Residents, leaders, clergy and elected officials representing DeKalb’s diverse population attended the brainstorming session offering resources and insight with a common goal: getting a 100 percent response rate for DeKalb. Johnson, who was appointed chair of DeKalb’s 2020 Complete Count Committee, urged the…

The City of Stonecrest has hired Clarence Boone, II as its new economic development director. Boone, who has 27 years of experience in brand development across a variety of industries, formerly worked as sales manager for Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau from 2012 through June of this year. Boone was responsible for developing strategic business opportunities and economic impact formulas for several market segments during his tenure with Discover DeKalb. “I’m definitely pleased to join the city of Stonecrest.  I see a lot of potential that is yet to be realized and I look forward to utilizing my…

Residents across DeKalb County are experiencing a smoother commute now that contractors have finished resurfacing 50 miles of the worst streets and roads in the county. The paving is funded by DeKalb’s one-cent special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST). Arenda Hansard lives in the Carlisle Commonwealth community near Stone Mountain. “There were some bad roads but now it’s easier to go in and out of the neighborhood,” said Hansard. “They did a good job and we are satisfied with what is being done with the additional penny.” To date, the DeKalb Board of Commissioners have approved two resurfacing projects…

Homeowners for Better Government (HOFBG) in Rockdale County say disturbances and shootings have prompted them to call for an all-out ban on short-term vacation rentals. HOFBG is inviting other homeowner groups in Rockdale to join them for a town hall meeting to discuss the issue on July 18,7 p.m., at the Philogia Masonic Lodge, 1005 Milstead Ave. NE, Conyers. “We want a ban on short-term vacation rentals,” said Don Meyer, founder of Homeowners for Better Government (HOFBG). “Short-term vacation rentals have destroyed our neighborhoods and have put our public safety and quality of life at risk and we want them…

  CONYERS—Thermice Jordan Bevelle passed away on July 9, 2019 after suddenly becoming ill. She was 48. Mrs. Bevelle’s background in print and broadcast journalism afforded her a 28-year career in communications. Diane Larche’, a publicist who knew Mrs. Bevelle through her work as a journalist, said Bevelle always went the extra mile to be helpful and she prided her work ethic. “She was as sweet as could be. She will be missed,” said Larche. Thermice and Everett Bevelle married in 2003 and made their home on a horse farm in Conyers. Thermice was born on March 3, 1971…

  Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is inviting both middle and high school students who live or attend a school in the Fourth Congressional District to demonstrate their technology skills by developing a mobile application or game. “Science and technology are transforming our world and we must do all we can to ensure our kids are taking part in and helping shape the changing economy,” said Johnson. “I’m proud of the students who participate in the challenge. This competition has showcased some of the Fourth Congressional District’s brightest young minds as they take on cutting-edge technology that is becoming an increasing…

Families who are new to the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) can now access the district’s new online registration system. Parents or guardians can visit www.dekalbschoolsga.org/online-registration and navigate through a series of prompts to enter the information needed for school assignments and support services for their student. Officials say the new and secure system will make registration available on most Internet-enabled devices, reducing the probability of a trip to a school or registration center. Parents of students returning to the same school must submit updated information to the school before the ending of the school year or during summer registration.…