Author: On Common Ground News

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…

Rockdale County’s Probate Court Judge Clarence Cuthpert Jr., District Attorney Alisha Johnson, and Sheriff Eric J. Levett invites the community to join them at their P.E.A.R.L (Protecting our Elderly and At-risk with Resourcesfor better Living) Town Hall meeting on Oct. 24, 6 to 8 p.m. at Excel Church, 1151 Flat Shoals Road S.E., Conyers. Come out and learn about Rockdale/ PEARL Program Resources. For more information, contact
Corporal Dawn Murrain at Dawn.murrain@rockdalecountyga.gov or 770-278-8159. You may also contact Karen Anderson at Karen.anderson@rockdalecountyga.gov or 770- 278-8109.

The DeKalb County Police Department is offering a $5,000 reward for help in identifying the suspect or suspects responsible for gunfire that wounded a 4-year-old girl that was hit by a stray bullet that entered her home on Oct. 3. The shooting took place at the Eastwyck Village apartments in Decatur at 3 a.m. A  stray bullet struck the child in her foot, police said. She was taken to a local hospital and treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening, authorities said. Public Safety Director Jack Lumpkin called the shooting “senseless and reckless.” “The entire DeKalb County community is…

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners recently inducted new members to the DeKalb County Youth Commission, a year-long leadership program designed to educate high school students about local government. The 2019-2020 youth commission class includes students from 12 of the county’s 22 high schools. To date, approximately 300 students have completed the program. Youth Commission participants receive community leadership training, learn about how local government operates, and interact with government officials. DeKalb County high school students complete a competitive selection process in order to be named to the commission. The program is managed by the DeKalb Human Services Department, Office…