Author: On Common Ground News

Qualifying for DeKalb County’s municipal elections ended on Aug. 23. Here are the candidates running in the Nov. 5 elections: AVONDALE ESTATES Mayor Clai Brown Jonathan Elmore (I) City Commissioner: (Vote for 2) Marguerite Belline Brian Fisher (I) Candace A Jones (Candy) Dee Merriam   BROOKHAVEN Mayor John A. Ernst, Jr. (I) Jennifer Heath City Council, District 1 Linley Jones (I) City Council, District 3 Dimitrius Owens Madeleine Norine Simmons   CHAMBLEE City Council, District 2 Shaun Lewis Leslie C. Robson (I) City Council, District 3 Thomas Hogan (I) Karen…

District Attorney Alisha Adams Johnson, Keynote Speaker  Rockdale County will host the 2nd Annual Rockin’ Women in Rockdale Empowerment Brunch on Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Georgia International Horse Park Carriage Room. The event will honor and recognize women in the community who have contributed to Rockdale County’s success. This year’s keynote speaker will be Rockdale District Attorney Alisha Adams Johnson. Tammy Hill, owner of Events of Atlanta, will serve as emcee. Due to limited space, the public must RSVP in order to attend. Those interested in attending can email Sitarah Coote at sitarah.coote@rockdalecountyga.gov and…

Local judges Ronald Ramsey, Phinia Aten elected to lead ABA special judicial group At the recent American Bar Association’s (ABA) annual meeting in San Francisco, local judges rose to lead roles in the national legal organization. DeKalb County State Court Judge Ronald Ramsey was elected Chair-Elect and Rockdale County Chief Magistrate Judge Phinia Aten was elected Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) National Conference of Specialized Court Judges (NCSCJ) of the Judicial Division. “It is truly an honor to be elected by our fellow member judges to serve in these respective offices and to represent the State…

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.

DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw will host the Second Annual Veterans Resource Expo event on Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Central DeKalb Senior Center, Mason Mill Park, 1346 McConnell Drive Decatur. Bradshaw, in collaboration with Atlanta VA HealthCare System, AMVETS Post 44, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 91 and Georgia Grace, will provide onsite resources and information about housing, VA benefits, caregiver and legal services, employment and training, mental health, telehealth and women’s wellness programs. AMVET Post 44 and DAV-Chapter 91 will serve hot dogs and hamburgers. Children are welcome to attend with family members. “I…

Early registration for the fourth annual DeKalb County Breast Cancer Awareness 5K Run/Walk is now open. On Saturday, Oct. 19, DeKalb County, along with Susan G. Komen and Northlake Mall, will host the event at Northlake Mall,4800 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Tucker, 9 a.m. The route begins and ends at the mall and also features a one-mile fun run. Through Sept. 13, registration for the 5K and one-mile fun run/walk is $5 for DeKalb County employees and $10 for non-employees. After Sept. 13, the price increases to $10 for DeKalb County employees and $20 for non-employees. Registration includes access to…

DECATUR—Aportion of Flat Shoals Road will be will be closed for two days to complete the installation of a concrete pole. The road closures will occur on Flat Shoals Road, between Brannen Road SE and Clinton Church Road SE, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., from Wednesday, Sept. 4, to Thursday, Sept. 5. Road closure and detour signs will be placed in the area to advise motorists of traffic restrictions. For more information, contact the DeKalb County Roads and Drainage Department at 404-294-2878.

DECATUR—Westbury Drive, between Valley Brook Road and Cool Hollow Drive, will be closed to through-traffic on Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., due to tree removal. Residents living in the neighborhood will have access during the closure. Road closure and detour signs will be placed in the area to advise motorists of traffic restrictions. For more information, contact the DeKalb County Roads and Drainage Department at 404-294-2878.

By George Chidi I’m saying her name aloud, again, and that’s half the problem. Elections are not won by a candidate who can make most people happy. They’re won by someone who can make a small number of people angry enough to pay attention. Consider the madness of Diane Daniels Adoma, former city councilwoman of Stonecrest. I say former because the Georgia state constitution says she surrendered her seat when she signed up to run for mayor last week. She is pretending that the law that vacated her seat doesn’t apply to her. Like … nope. “I didn’t…

  By Ed Williams      MARTA’S illegal sales tax extension is headed to the Supreme Court.   A notice of appeal was filed on Aug. 26 in Fulton County Superior Court: Edward Williams v. MARTA. The primary causes of action raised in this complaint concern the unlawful extension of sales taxes without a referendum with regards to the 5th, 8th, 11th, and 12thamendments of the MARTA 1971 Rapid Transit Contract Assistance and Agreement (RTCAA). MARTA and the local jurisdictions did not have the legal authority to levy a sales tax without a referendum. The original terms of the RTCAA…