Author: On Common Ground News

Xpress passengers on all 27 routes across 12 metro counties will begin seeing the new logo of the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) on Xpress commuter coaches this week. Offiials say the addition of the ATL logo will help to identify and promote a more connected network of mobility options across the region. Xpress – operated by the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) – joins MARTA as the second transit provider in the region to incorporate the ATL logo. The new logo will appear on buses and at park-and-ride lots. Xpress and ATL co-branding will heighten visibility and awareness…

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) DeKalb, Inc. is hosting a Multicultural Mental Health Fair in recognition of Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, which will be held Saturday, July 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Milam Park in Clarkston. NAMI DeKalb President Cynthia Moorer is encouraging the public to attend. “Our fair is open to the public and welcomes diverse populations, including specific refugee and minority communities in DeKalb County,” Moorer said. NAMI is working to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health issues and spread more awareness to diverse populations. The event includes guest speakers and mental health community…

District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson                Patrina King DeKalb County District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will host the second installment in her Books & More Women’s Empowerment Club Series  on Saturday, July 20, noon to 2 p.m., at the Smoke Rise Country Club, 4900 Chedworth Drive,Stone Mountain. The Women’s Empowerment Book Club will feature seasoned golfer and founder of Golf Women Mean Business, Patrina King, who will share her advice on what it takes to be successful in business from the teachings in her book, “9 Holes 9 Goals,…

Pictured left to right: GMA President, and Auburn Mayor Linda Blechinger, City of Stonecrest Councilwoman Diane Adoma, and Mara O. Shaw, leadership development program manager. Stonecrest Councilmember Diane Adoma received the Certificate of Achievement from the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute during the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) Annual Convention in Savannah on June 21. Adoma is the first member of the Stonecrest City Council to receive the prestigious certificate of achievement, GMA stated in a news release. The Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute, a cooperative effort of GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, provides a nationally recognized series of training opportunities for city officials. To…

By OCG Staff Smoking and vaping would be banned inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and other enclosed public places in the city under a proposed ordinance approved by the Atlanta City Council. The City Council passed the proposal 13-2 on July 1, with members Howard Shook and J. P. Matzigkeit voting against the measure. The approval follows years of advocates pushing for more stringent laws to reduce health risks for secondhand smoke and to deter young people from starting to smoke. The new law would take effect beginning Jan. 2, 2020, if Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signs…

Student Registration relocates to RCA July 22-Aug. 2   Rockdale County Public Schools(RCPS) are urging parents to beat the rush and register their children for school online at www.rockdaleschools.org/registration. Online registration is required as the first step for registering and enrolling students for school in Rockdale County. Computers are available at the RCPS Student Registration office for families without access to a computer or internet. This is the third year RCPS has offered online registration for families coming to Rockdale County. The first day of school is July 29, 2019. After registering online, parents need to bring the…

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond’s proposed fiscal year 2019 mid-year budget includes a balanced budget, millage rate rollback and property tax relief. County officials say the proposed millage rate rollback, combined with the Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax Credit (EHOST), means an average tax savings of $930 for a resident owning a home valued at $250,000. “DeKalb’s $1.2 billion fiscal year 2019 midyear budget prioritizes fiscal integrity and accountability,” said Thurmond. “The county is committed to delivering high-quality services while providing substantial property tax reductions for the second consecutive year,” said Thurmond. Thurmond is proposing to…

An employee of the DeKalb County Jail has been charged with sexually assaulting inmates. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office issued arrest warrants on July 3 for 59-year-old Martin Moten of Loganville. A detention officer since 2004, Moten is charged with two counts of sexual assault against a person in custody and two counts of violation of oath of office. Two female inmates have accused Moten of having engaged in sexual contact with them between March and June of this year. “Officer Moten was placed on administrative leave when we were advised of the allegations by our…

Dee Dawkins-Haigler speaks out on medical marijuana bill. Help for medical THC oil, HOPE scholarships, protection from slumlords By Sarita Mason For On Common Ground News Georgia has taken another step toward making medical marijuana available to registered patients who need it, but the new law regulating distribution may still force those suffering from severe seizures, deadly cancers and other chronic debilitating conditions to wait months to get the drug. Under HB 324, which took effect July 1, six private companies have been approved to grow and produce THC oil in Georgia, but the…

DeKalb Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann presents retiring Chief Deputy Reginald Scandrett (right) with a memento of his three decades in law enforcement with the sheriff’s office at a special program on June 24. Photo courtesy of DeKalb Sheriff’s Office Public Information. Hundreds of metro area law enforcement agency representatives, elected officials, business leaders, and fellow employees of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office recently celebrated Chief Deputy Reginald B. Scandrett’s retirement after 30 years with the agency. DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann said Scandrett’s service modeled the “exemplary leadership skills and compassion for public service” required for success…