Author: On Common Ground News

Watchdogs for Justice Team will conduct a free seminar, “Keeping Kids Out of Prison,”  on May 4, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur.  The seminar will consist of interactive skits and a question-and-answer session involving the following topics: What your constitutional rights are and how to safely exercise them Four primary reasons youth end up in the system What to do if stopped by the police When to talk and when to keep silent What “3 strikes and you are out” means Watchdogs for Justice is a…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) invites all students, teachers and parents to a day filled with strategy, tactics and deep thinking at Stone Mountain Middle School, 4301 Sarr Parkway in Tucker. The school will host the seventh annual DCSD Chess Club Fair on Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. until noon. The event will feature chess gameplay, door prizes, recognition, refreshments and special guest speakers. One special guest will be local nonprofit founder and public speaker Orrin Hudson. In 2001, Hudson founded Be Someone, an organization that uses chess to promote self-esteem, responsibility, and critical thinking among children in underserved…

DeKalb County is celebrating National Park RX Day on Sunday, April 28. Park RX Day is designed to promote outdoor activities and good health across the nation. DeKalb has planned an array of free activities on this day including yoga, tai chi, guided walking tours, planting, dancing, blood pressure screenings, health education and food The DeKalb County Board of Health is coordinating the county’s observance of Park Rx Day. The following county parks are participating: Mason Mill Park (Flagship Event) 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Activities: Yoga, cardio, guided walking tour, kid-focused fitness, health education and…

Work Session: Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. – Assembly Hall located at 901 Main Street, Conyers, Georgia 30012 Voting Session: Tuesday, May 14, 10 a.m. – Assembly Hall located at 901 Main Street, Conyers Evening Work Session: Tuesday, May 21, 7 p.m. – Honey Creek Elementary School located at 700 Honey Creek Road, Conyers Zoning Public Hearing: Tuesday, May 28, 9 a.m. – Assembly Hall located at 901 Main Street, Conyers, Voting Session: Tuesday, May 28, 10 a.m., Assembly Hall located at 901 Main Street, Conyers

Mandisha A. Thomas (left) and State Rep. Debra Bazemore (right) present Congressman Hank Johnson (center) with The Environmental Scorecard Award. Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) was presented with “The Environmental Scorecard Award,” in recognition of his 100 percent environmental voting record in 2018. Johnson received the award on April 22, Earth Day, at the Georgia Environmental Justice Education and Awareness Symposium, where he also served as a guest speaker for the symposium. Mandisha A. Thomas, founder of Golden Gate Health Care Resources, was joined by Debra Bazemore, Georgia State Representative HD-63, in presenting the award to Johnson. “It is an…

Task Force combats human trafficking  DeKalb County District Attorney  has been appointed to the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion, and Education (GRACE) Commission, a task force created by Georgia’s First Lady, Marty Kemp, to combat human trafficking in the State. First Lady Kemp publicly announced the 22 members named to the Commission during a press conference on April 23 at the State Capitol. “It is my pleasure to officially welcome all members to the GRACE Commission,” said First Lady Kemp. “I am confident that we have put together a great team of dedicated individuals who are well-equipped to…

By Rockdale Sheriff Eric J. Levett What is happening in the Rockdale community to warrant 106 suicide calls since Jan. 1, 2018? It’s a startling trend for me as the Sheriff. We need to figure out how to change the stigma of seeking help. As I comb through the pages of the numerous incident reports mentioned above, I found situations of academic failure, domestic disputes, a young girl with a broken heart, the loss of employment, bullying gone out of control, mental illness without medication and sexual abuse that someone was afraid to report. While there are many factors which…

Two Rockdale County toddlers are recovering at Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta after nearly drowning in a pool at their home on April 25, authorities said. Rockdale Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Yolande Lovingood-Moore said Rockdale dispatch received a call of a double drowning in South Rockdale at a private residence at 12:36 p.m. Fire & Rescue, Rockdale Sheriff’s Office and National Emergency Medical Service all responded to the call. “Everyone worked really hard to save them and they pulled through,” said Lovingood-Moore. CPR was performed on both children, ages 3 and 2, Lovingood-Moore said. The children were flown by…

Stonecrest Parks Director Sean DePalma (left) fields questions from Rico Adams, a constituent who spoke doing public comments at the City Council meeting on April 22. Community informational meeting set April 25 After a lengthy and heated debate, the Stonecrest City Council on Monday night (April 22), approved an intergovernmental agreement in a 5-1 vote to begin the process for the acquisition of nine parks from DeKalb County that are located in the city of Stonecrest. The council also in a 4-2 vote approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a new vendor to run the summer camp program…

The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) will host a community open house on Thursday, April 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Briarwood Recreation Center in Brookhaven, 2235 Briarwood Way NE, Atlanta. Residents in the Brookhaven area will have the opportunity to discuss upcoming projects including the Package III Gravity Sewer System Rehabilitation, Replacement and Construction Project which includes the installation of new and larger wastewater pipe.  The project will begin this summer in the Brookhaven area. This project is part of DeKalb County’s $1.345 billion Capital Improvement Program. Projects are designed to reduce sanitary sewer system…