Author: On Common Ground News

Six candidates have qualified to run for the District 5 Stonecrest City Council seat vacated by Diane Adoma.  The three-day qualifying period ended on Sept. 5. City Clerk and Elections Superintendent Megan Reid said the following candidates paid their fees to run for the seat and will be on the Nov. 5 ballot: Christopher Seabrook  Dave Marcus Tammy L. Grimes  Barbara Hall Virginia Pierce-Kelly, Founder and CEO of Butterfly Journey Human Services LLC Nathan Alexander The special election will be held at the same time that all of the municipal elections in DeKalb County will be held. Stonecrest Mayor Jason…

Denouncing the “utter financial failure” of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD), a coalition of DeKalb organizations is urging the community to reject the district’s proposed referendum for a $265 million General Obligation (GO) bond. Restore DeKalb, Operation LEAD, and The Covenant Church say they plan to defeat new taxes, request a forensic audit, and demand the immediate removal of Superintendent R. Stephen Green.  The schools chief has announced that he plans to work through the end of the 2019-20 school year but is not seeking to extend his contract with the district. The coalition said in a Sept. 5…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) Superintendent R. Stephen Green will host his first “On The Scene with Dr. Green” event of the 2019-2020 school year on Thursday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m., Redan Middle School, 1775 Young Road, Lithonia. Dr. Green will give a brief statement about the state of DCSD before answering questions from the audience. Throughout the 2019-2020 school year, Green will host the forums at seven locations. To learn more, visit www.dekalbschoolsga.org/on-the-scene.  

The DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department (DCFR) has added two new rapid response vehicles, expanding the total number of units to five. The additional vehicles are in service at Station 20 (Panthersville) and Station 21 (Dunwoody) and respond to emergency medical and fire suppression calls. DeKalb County added a rapid response vehicle at Station 21, which serves Dunwoody and surrounding areas. “DeKalb County has structured a strong countywide ambulance transport service system,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. “Our firefighters are often the first on the scene and the most critical point of emergency response is…

The DeKalb Cultural Exchange and DeKalb NAACP branch will present a forum with the Stonecrest mayoral candidates and the candidates who qualified to run for the District 5 Stonecrest City Council seat vacated by Diane Adoma. The candidates’ forum will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m., at The Travelers Rest Baptist Church/House of Hope, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. Marlon Walker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will moderate the forum. Stonecrest Councilman Rob Turner and DeKalb County School Board member Vickie B. Turner, founders of the DeKalb Cultural Exchange, said the candidates will share their strategic…

Upgrades addressing security, safety measures and accessibility for the handicapped are under way at the Rockdale County Courthouse. Sue Sanders, director of maintenance, said the upgrades are in response to an audit conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice mandating the ADA compliance for the building. “The audit was conducted about two years ago and we are going down the list addressing those issues that were in the audit,” said Sanders. In addition to addressing the audit, the county is looking at overall improvements needed to keep the deteriorating 80-year-old courthouse in operation. Sanders said the Board of Commissioners approved…

Friends of the DeKalb County Public Library will host a book signing and reception with Michael Thurmond on Monday, Sept. 9, 7:15-9 p.m., at the Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore St., Decatur. Thurmond will sign his book, “A Story Untold: Black Men and Women in Athens History.” Thurmond’s book is a compilation of nine written essays and one pictorial essay concerning African American Athenians. Raised as a sharecropper’s son in Clarke County, GA, Thurmond researched and wrote “A Story Untold”while earning a Juris Doctorate at the University of South Carolina’s School of Law. The Athens Historical Society published the third edition…

Members of the DeKalb County Legislative Delegation, co-chaired by State Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) and State Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur), will host a series of town hall meetings. The meetings are scheduled as follows:          Monday, Sept. 16, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Stonecrest          Tuesday, Oct. 1, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library, 5234 LaVista Road, Tucker          Tuesday, Oct.15, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Manual J. Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur          Monday, Oct. 21, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Brookhaven City Hall, 4362 Peachtree Road N.E.,Brookhaven The town…

Rockdale Emergency Relief (RER) is now accepting applications for a position on the Board of Directors. The board is comprised of 12 members who are passionate about helping members of our community achieve self-sustainability. As the longest-serving nonprofit for the last 51 years in Rockdale County, RER provides access to a variety of services and support centered on food security, child wellbeing and housing stability. RER partners with numerous community  churches and agencies. Meetings are held once per month and active members are sought for a minimum of a two-year cycle. Applicants should email janice@peachtreeacademy.comfor more information or…

The city’s economic development department expanded recently with the addition of William Settle who will serve as a business development manager tasked with developing new business opportunities for the city as well as contributing to the success of local entrepreneurs. Settle brings more than 30 years of experience to the city with a strong background in business development and managerial experience with companies such as Delta Airlines, and Morris Brown College. “We are elated to have Mr. Settle’s expertise,” Mayor Jason Lary said.  “This expansion of our economic development department will help bring to our city some of the businesses…