Author: On Common Ground News

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for its next Sheriff’s Citizens Academy, which will be held on Tuesdays, Aug. 13 through Oct. 8, 6 to 8 p.m. The free, nine-week course is designed to provide a better understanding of law enforcement by educating Rockdale County Citizens about their Sheriff’s Office. Participants must be at least 21 years old. The class is limited to 30 people. Applications must be completed by Friday, Aug. 9. Citizens will learn the different functions of the various divisions at the RCSO. Topics will include: Tour of law enforcement facilities, K-9 demonstration, Criminal…

Congressman visits “Door of No Return” with Speaker Pelosi, Rep. John Lewis and other CBC Members to observe the 400th Anniversary of the first enslaved Africans landing in America Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) traveled with Speaker Nancy Pelosi on a Congressional delegation to Ghana to hold high-level discussions with Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, Speaker Mike Oquaye and other senior government officials. The delegation also visited U.S. Army Africa headquarters in Italy.  Speaker Pelosi delivered an address to the Ghanaian Parliament. Solemnly, the delegation also paid its respects at Cape Coast and Elmina Castles and the “Door of No Return,”…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals, have made a third arrest in connection with the shooting death of Ronald Peters on June 4 in Decatur. Tyreese T. Johnson, 19, was arrested in Lithonia on July 31 for felony murder and armed robbery. Johnson is accused of fatally shooting and taking property that belonged to the victim. Johnson is in custody at the DeKalb County Jail. Two other suspects are in custody on felony murder and armed robbery charges stemming from the same incident. On July 26, Shaleeya Nicole Moore,18, of McDonough was…

Featuring more than 400 artists, the 51st annual Yellow Daisy Festival will take place Sept. 5-8 at Stone Mountain Park. The park is seeking more than 200 volunteers to experience the festival while earning park perks. Various volunteer positions are available within the festival’s art, crafts, music and food areas. Positions require light work, walking and a friendly smile. Greeters, photographers, gate attendants and help center representatives are needed as well as volunteers to help direct crafters and customers moving items in and out of the festival. Others may be assigned to work as support for crafters in the loops.…

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…