Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb Cultural Exchange will host the Stonecrest Mayoral Candidates’ forum on Saturday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m., at The Travelers Rest Baptist Church/House of Hope, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. Stonecrest Councilman Rob Turner and his wife, Dekalb County School Board member Vickie B. Turner, will host the meeting. The candidates will share their strategic plans, vision and direction for the City. Stakeholders should come prepared to engage the candidates in a robust discussion.

Chip Davidson, III, a descendant of the family who was once considered the largest producer of granite in the world, Davidson Granite Enterprises. The enterprise first began operations around 1895 and owned Arabia Mountain for most of the twentieth century. By the 1960s, Davidson Granite Enterprises was a top producer of granite in the world. Granite from Lithonia quarries are present today in well-known buildings and structures in places such as New York and Washington, D.C. In the 1970s, the Davidson family decided to donate 500+ acres of Arabia Mountain and some of its surrounding land to DeKalb County as…

DeKalb County Commissioner Kathie Gannon is announcing her Autumn “Walk & Talk” series, which will feature five different walks, exploring various Super District 6 parks and PATH trails.  The informal community “walks” begin Thursday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m., along the 2-mile South Peachtree Creek PATH trail from Mason Mill Park towards Medlock Park. Other dates include: Friday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m., cart path@Sugar Creek Golf and Tennis Club Tuesday, Oct. 8, 6 p.m., South Fork Trail @Zonolite Park Tuesday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m., Brookside Park   Thursday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m., Frazier Row Park The walks highlight DeKalb County’s…

DeKalb County Cooperative Extension will host a “Garden Trends” class on Sept. 12, 6:45 to 8:30 p.m., at the DeKalb County Extension Office Auditorium, located at 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur. Attendees will learn what’s hot and on trend in home and public gardens. The class is $10 per person. To register, contact the DeKalb County Cooperative Extension Office at 404-298-4080.

On Saturday, Sept. 14, the Pride of Conyers #578 Masons and Rockdale County will host a men’s health fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Piedmont Rockdale Hospital (classrooms 1,2, and 3), 1412 Milstead Ave. NE, Conyers. The fair will feature health screenings, veteran services, a chiropractor, massages, a healthy cooking demonstration, healthy shopping, athletic activities and more. The event is free but RSVPs are appreciated for planning purposes. To RSVP, visit https://menshealthfair2019.eventbrite.com or for more information, call the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Office at 770-278-7001.

 “I am leaving a job I love because my health challenges are taking their toll on me, my family and my staff. ” — Johnny Isakson   Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson says he plans to resign from office on Dec. 31 due to failing health. Once Isakson vacates the seat, Gov. Brian Kemp said he will make a temporary appointment until a special election is held in November 2020. The Georgia senator has three years unexpired on his term. The 74-year-old, who has Parkinson’s disease, said in a statement today that he is dealing with mounting health issues, and…

By Valerie J. Morgan STONECREST, GA—Former City Councilwoman Diane Adoma has lost Round 1 in her challenge to Georgia’s Constitution, but she remains undeterred, despite a judge’s ruling against her this week. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Mark Anthony Scott on Monday denied Adoma’s request for an emergency injunction to keep her seat while she seeks the office of mayor. Judge Scott stated in his ruling that Adoma’s seat was vacated when she qualified to run for Mayor of the City of Stonecrest as mandated in Article II, Section II, Paragraph V of the Georgia Constitution. Adoma, however,…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will wrap up its series of public input meetings in September on proposed options to address changes in the E-SPLOST budget due to construction costs increases. District officials presented the proposed options to the Board of Education on July 8. A key part of the proposed options is a potential referendum to approve a general obligation (“GO”) bond issue to complete the current E-SPLOST program and to complete additional projects to address urgent facility needs. The bond would range between $222 million and $265 million, officials said. The district held public meetings at…

  By Valerie J. Morgan STONECREST, GA—Former City Council woman Diane Adoma turned in her City Hall keys today, but vowed to keep her seat on the City Council even as city officials  took out a restraining order against her. Adrion Bell, the city’s Communications Director, said Adoma gave him the city’s keys around noon at the radio station WAOK, where he and Adoma  were invited by talk show host Rashad Richey to discuss Adoma’s challenge to the Georgia Constitution. Elections supervisor Megan Reid participated in the interview by calling in. After the radio interview with Bell, Adoma…

The Stonecrest City Council on Monday unanimously approved the qualifying period for the unexpired District 5 council seat. Qualifying for the seat, formerly held by Diana Adoma, will be held on Sept. 3-5, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., at City Hall, 3120 Stonecrest Blvd. Adoma is running for the office of mayor. The qualifying fee is $450 for the council seat. The special election will go on the same ballot for the upcoming municipal elections that will be held in DeKalb County. Advanced and absentee voting begins Oct. 15. The General Election…