Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA – State Representatives Bonnie Rich (R-Suwanee) and Gerald Greene (R-Cuthbert) have announced that they will introduce legislation during the 2020 legislative session to address vaping and e-cigarette use in Georgia. “As a mother of teenagers, I have firsthand knowledge of the insidious and harmful effects of youth vaping in our community,” said Rep. Rich. “For years, I have battled the problem alongside other parents and our school administrators. Now, as a legislator, I have the ability to do more. During this off-season, I called a meeting among the stakeholders in House District 97, including the Gwinnett County District…

The DeKalb County Magistrate Court has been awarded a grant of $749,000 which it will use, in conjunction with its community partners, to increase compliance with protective orders and to strengthen legal advocacy services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The court handles the county’s temporary protective order cases by designation, including monitoring compliance under the protective orders. “The Magistrate Court handles more than 3,000 temporary protective orders per year,” DeKalb County Chief Magistrate Judge Berryl A. Anderson said. “The court not only recognizes the importance of issuing protective orders, but we are also acutely…

Gwinnett County Corrections is currently hiring for Correctional Officer and Correctional Officer Senior positions, so those interested in pursuing a new and interesting career in public safety are encouraged to attend an upcoming job fair. The job fair takes place Saturday, Oct. 12, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Corrections’ headquarters, 750 Hi Hope Road, Lawrenceville. There are multiple phases in the hiring process, and this event will expedite the process by giving candidates the opportunity to complete phase one. The job fair will include a facility tour, background processing, a behavior personal assessment device and interview boards. Attendees are…

The community is invited to learn more about the 2020 Census Count at the DeKalb Cultural Exchange(DCE) breakfast, which will be held on Oct. 12, 9 a.m., at the Greater Traveler’s Rest Baptist Church/House of Hope, 4650 Flt Shoals Parkway, Decatur. The guest presenters will be Bernita Smith, program manager, DeKalb County 2020 Census, and Marcus Grinage, project coordinator, DeKalb County 2020 Census. DeKalb County School District(DCSD) Chief of Public Safety, Bradley Gober, will present a current status of school sweeps that have been conducted for the benefit of student/school safety. DCSD Chief of Curriculum and Instruction, Stacy Stepney, will…

Stone Mountain Park is recruiting seasonal and full-time employees for the region’s popular events including Snow Mountain and Stone Mountain Christmas, which open Nov. 16. All applications must be completed online, with training beginning in October for many positions. Offering a variety of fun, flexible jobs as well as entry-level leadership, professional, administrative and management opportunities, Stone Mountain Park is now hiring team members in food service, attractions, merchandise and entertainment. Snow Mountain positions include lift operators, team members and technicians. Other available positions also include cooks, bussers, servers, dishwashers, custodians, railroad conductors, farmyard animal keeper, educational interpreters, campground host,…

The Stonecrest City Council approved the purchase of the former Sears building at The Mall At Stonecrest at a special-called meeting on Oct. 3. The city is spending $2.1 million for the building, which it plans to use for a public safety building it hopes to share with DeKalb County’s Police Department. Mayor Jason Lary said the purchase, which will be funded by the city’s SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) includes two buildings—the 142,000-square-foot Sears building and its 15,000-square-foot tire and battery center. “I am so elated that we got it done. Public safety has been our No.…

DeKalb Superior Court Judge Asha F. Jackson has dismissed RCG Ventures’ lawsuit against the City of Stonecrest, upholding the city’s denial of a SLUP (special land use permit) for a Popeye’s Chicken drive-through at 8200 Mall Parkway. RCG was seeking to build a drive-through Popeye’s restaurant in the plaza where Panera Bread is located. The city denied a special land use permit that would have permitted the drive-through at the location, after an uproar from community residents who opposed it. Mayor Jason Lary, who vowed to stand by the community, said he was pleased with the court’s decision. “Our citizens…

The City of Stonecrest recently announced that it now has its own licensed drone pilot—Angela Venable, a staff member of the city’s Communications Department.  Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary honored Venable as the first licensed drone pilot on city staff at theSept. 23 City Council meeting, applauding her leadership in moving the city forward. “One of the things we believe here at Stonecrest is that we grow and promote our own. I think that’s the best thing you can do with regards to seeing people personally aspire, move up with their own goals and serve their city at the same time.…

Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. will host the last Shop Talk forum of 2019 on Saturday, Oct. 12, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Classic Cutz Barbershop, 1955 Highway 138 N.E., Suite 700, Conyers. The 4th event in this year’s series will feature the following speakers to answer questions and concerns: Sherri Washington, Post 1 Commissioner Tisa Smart-Washington, Rockdale County Tax Commissioner Betty Maddox, Grieving Relatives In Every Violent Event (G.R.I.E.V.E.) Terry Battle, Grieving Relatives In Every Violent Event (G.R.I.E.V.E.) Shop Talk is a grass-roots forum that provides an opportunity for community residents to meet…

The DeKalb County Sanitation Division will host the Third Annual Landfill Amnesty Day event on Saturday, Oct. 19, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the county-owned Seminole Road Landfill, 4203 Clevemont Road, Ellenwood. Residents will have an opportunity to dispose of bagged garbage, yard trimmings, tree parts, bulky items such as furniture and small and large appliances, special collection items such as tires, and construction and demolition materials such as carpet and fencing. No hazardous materials will be accepted. No commercial participation will be allowed. Residents are limited to 10 tires per vehicle. Participation is free and open only to…