Author: On Common Ground News

The world’s No. 1 motivational speaker, Les Brown, will join Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson, chess champion and founder of Be Someone Inc., at the Close Conference on Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m., at the Kimpton Overland Hotel, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Che Brown and Trevor Otts, creators of the Close Conference, are hosting the event at no cost as a holiday gift to the business community. The three-day conference, which began Dec. 5, is providing business development and revenue-generating ideas as well as networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, motivational speakers and coaches, marketers, personal and professional development experts and others. Brown said in…

L-R: Mayor Jason Lary, Economic Development Director Clarence Boone, and Council member Rob Turner The City of Stonecrest plans to launch its own convention and tourism bureau in early 2020, breaking ties with the Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB). The City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 25 to terminate its intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the DCVB and utilize the city’s hotel/motel taxes to promote its own conventions, tourism and trade shows. The city would end the agreement with DCVB in February 2020, meeting its required notice of at least 90 days to the agency. Mayor Jason Lary said by…

TheDeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a murder suspect. A Felony Murder warrant has been issued for Atlanta resident Dequan Trimell King, 25, in connection with the shooting death of Brandon McCrary on Waldrop Place in Decatur on Sept. 22, 2019. Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of the suspect is asked to contact the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit by calling CrimeStoppers at 404-577-TIPS.  A reward may be possible if the information provided leads to an arrest.

On Nov. 22, at 1:20 p.m., the four suspects pictured fled from officers in a Dodge Challenger bearing tag CIB8629.  This tag is reported stolen out of Kentucky and the vehicle was last seen southbound on Highway 138. Any information regarding these persons of interest may result in a cash reward of up to $2,000.00. Tipsters will remain anonymous and are asked to contact Crime Stoppers with any information: Call: 404.577.TIPS (8477) Click: www.CrimeStoppersAtlanta.org BOLO CS 19-115987

CEO Michael Thurmond is joined by county leaders at the Dec. 5 news conference.   DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has recommended to the county Board of Commissioners a 4 percent public safety salary increase. Included in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal, the raise would be effective the first pay period in January 2020. The total cost of the compensation increase is $5.4 million. “DeKalb County remains committed to ensuring that our community is safe,” said CEO Thurmond. “The county’s holistic approach to increase compensation for the men and women of public safety reflects the county’s commitment to protecting DeKalb…

Tammy Grimes is celebrating her victory and ready to serve on the Stonecrest City Council. Grimes, an instructional support specialist for the DeKalb County School District, defeated Dave Marcus, a retired strategic planner and financial analyst, in the Dec. 3 runoff for the Stonecrest District 5 City Council seat. Grimes said she is looking forward to “working with the citizens, mayor and City Council to make “Stonecrest proud.” “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!  I am humbled by all of the support that has been shown to me and my campaign during the November election and the December runoff.  I…

DeKalb County Department of Family & Children Services (DFCS) staff are preparing to move to a new location in early 2020. Officials say the current location, 178 Sams Street, Decatur, will close its doors on Friday, Jan. 31. The new office will open the following Monday, Feb. 3, at 8 a.m. at 2300 Parklake Drive, Atlanta. DFCS will move staff to the new location throughout the winter. The new 113,000-Square-foot office building will house over 500 DFCS staff and is expected to serve more than 100,000 families in DeKalb. DFCS administers The Georgia Food Stamp Program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP]), a…

The DeKalb County Human Services Department’s 2019 Grant Program will support 58 local nonprofits and provide approximately $851,000 in funding. “The Human Services Department is pleased to invest in local nonprofits that serve DeKalb County residents,” said Human Services Director Damon Scott. “During this grant cycle, DeKalb was able to extend the reach of the Human Services Department and support agencies that deliver extremely important and critical services countywide.” The Human Services Grant Program is designed to provide supplemental funding to community nonprofit organizations. Service areas that will be addressed in this grant cycle include youth and family development, crisis…

Praise 102.5’s Darlene McCoy will host the event for seniors.   Seniorsin DeKalb County will be getting some valuable keys as an early Christmas gift. While these keys won’t unlock a new car, they will unlock beneficial information that will get 2020 off to a healthy start. DeKalb County Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, in partnership with the DeKalb County Board of Health and the Lou Walker Senior Center, will sponsor “New Y ear, New You: Your Keys to Aging Well.” The event will take place Friday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Lou Walker Senior Center,…

State Rep. Viola Davis, District 87, will host a series of town hall meetings at DeKalb County public libraries to discuss education, ethics, economic development, equity and other issues.  The schedule is as follows: 11 and Dec. 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the conference room, at the Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library, 5234 Lavista Road, Tucker. 12 and Dec. 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the conference room at the Hairston Crossing Library, 4911 Redan Road, Stone Mountain. 16, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in the conference room, Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library, 5234 Lavista Road, Tucker. To schedule…