Author: On Common Ground News

On Tuesday, Oct, 1, DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson announced a $5,000 grant in support of Tabitha’s House, an organization focused on eradicating teen sex trafficking in the State of Georgia. Davis Johnson raised the funds with the support of Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority, Southern Company, Emory Hospital, The Collaborative Firm and DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry. “Sex trafficking is real and we must do all that we can to address it,” Commissioner Davis Johnson said. “This is a tragedy that is taking place in our back yard, we must not stand for it and it is up…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will hold Open House nights during October and November 2019 for the 2020-21 School Specialty and Choice programs. Students and families interested in applying to a program are strongly encouraged to attend that program’s Open House night. The application window for School Specialty and Choice programs is November 15, 2019 through December 20, 2019. The application will be online at www.rockdaleschools.org/specialtyandchoice. Students may apply for specialty programs outside of their assigned neighborhood school zone. Please note: Non-traditional programs such as Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, Rockdale Career Academy, Rockdale Open Campus and…

SAT scores for high schools around the state have just been released for last year’s graduating class, Class of 2019, and scores for Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) followed the state and national trend with a decrease from 2018. The mean composite score for RCPS is 979, down from 995.  The mean score for Georgia public schools is 1048 and the mean score for U.S. public schools is 1039, both down from 1054 and 1049 respectively. The 2019 class represented the largest number of SAT test takers in four years and was the largest graduating class to…

Rockdale County Chief Magistrate Judge Phinia Aten has been appointed by the Rockdale Board of Commissioners to lead the County’s Census Count Court-Side Subcommittee.  She has begun recruiting local lawyers, legal professionals and concerned citizens to assist the group’s efforts to bring awareness, education and increased census count rates. “We are looking for other trusted community voices in the legal field who encounter high volumes of residents in their work and community service. We plan to implement highly-effective strategies to boost our participation numbers,” said Judge Aten. “The U.S. Census is rooted in our constitution and there are thousands of…

Similar to many other cities during the time of Prohibition, there was a vast distribution network of alcohol flowing through the streets of Atlanta through the 1920s. Along with illegal liquor, issues of classism, racism and anti-immigrant sentiment overtook the city and lingered even after the state repealed its prohibition laws. Prohibition in Atlanta details the in-depth history of Atlanta during the time of Prohibition and the after-effects experienced into present day. Join authors Ron Smith and Mary O. Boyle as they discuss their book, “Prohibition in Atlanta: Temperance, Tiger Kings & White Lightning” at the Hops at the History…

Mirtha V. Ramos to lead DeKalb Police Department DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has appointed Mirtha V. Ramos as chief of the DeKalb County Police Department, effective Nov. 4. Ramos, who is leaving the Miami-Dade, Florida Police Department, was selected after a nationwide search was conducted to replace former Police Chief James Conroy, who retired in April and then accepted a job as police chief of Roswell. Ramos will be responsible for leading nearly 800 sworn police officers and 110 civilian employees, and managing the police department’s $95.1 million budget. “Chief Ramos has embraced community policing as an effective tool…

SPECIAL CALLED MEETING Agenda 10032019

The Georgia State Patrol is helping Atlanta police investigate a multivehicle crash that happened after a pedestrian was killed on I-20 near Lowery Boulevard this morning as the rush hour began. A man was killed while trying to cross the interstate near Lowery Boulevard around 6:20 a.m., Atlanta police spokesman Sgt. John Chafee told AJC.com. He was hit by a driver near the median wall. As other cars tried to avoid the accident, six cars were involved in a multivehicle collision, police said. Traffic was delayed on both sides of I-20 near Lowery Boulevard as police and emergency crews worked…

Pictured: DeKalb County District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, Teresa Hardy, president of the DeKalb Branch of the NAACP, State Rep. Doreen Carter, District 92, State Rep. Vernon Jones, District 91 DeKalb County District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson will hold an October Town Hall series, titled “Protecting Our Right to Vote.” Topics discussed in the two-meeting series will be the importance of voting, voter registration and how to get involved with the election process with a presentation from DeKalb NAACP President Teresa Hardy. “Our right to vote is very precious and it is imperative that we ensure that all citizens are aware…

DeKalb Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host an iFit in the Park Fitness Festival on Saturday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,atMason Mill Recreation Center, 1400 McConnell Drive, Decatur.  The festival is open to all ages and will feature sporting games and fitness demonstrations led by trained professionals, nutritional and healthcare vendors, music and more. The festival is designed to educate and provide a full-body workout that can build strength and reduce stress. Participants are encouraged to bring a towel and water.