Author: On Common Ground News

The 4th Congressional Federation of Democratic Women will host a debate for candidates running for the Conyers City Council. The debate will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m., at Macedonia Baptist Church, 1052 Barton St. N.W., Conyers. The community is encouraged to meet the candidates and learn about their qualifications, platforms and viewpoints.

The community is invited to attend the grand re-opening of Browns Mill Recreation Center, 5101 Browns Mill Road, Stonecrest, on Saturday, Oct.12, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Enjoy light refreshments, door prizes and learn about the center’s programs. RSVP on Eventbrite by searching “Grand Re-Opening for Browns Mill Recreation Center.”

The DeKalb County Sanitation Division will host a fall household hazardous waste recycling event on Saturday, Oct. 12, 8 a.m. to noon, at the Sanitation Division’s Central Transfer Station, 3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur. The event offers county residents an opportunity to properly dispose of dangerous household items that are no longer in use. Hazardous materials, such as aerosols, batteries, adhesives, flammables, lawn care products, fluorescent light bulbs, photo chemicals, paint, paint-related products and artist supplies, will be accepted. Paint will be limited to 10 gallons per vehicle. Agricultural waste, ammunition, radioactive materials, pharmaceuticals, biohazardous and biomedical waste will not be…

The DeKalb Entertainment Commission will host its third Entertainment Expo on Saturday, Oct.19, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at North DeKalb Mall, 2050 Lawrenceville Highway, Decatur. The expo will feature movie screenings from 5 to 10 p.m. and interactive stations highlighting DeKalb County resources in the film, television, music, and digital entertainment industry. The event also will feature panel sessions, interactive master classes, one-on-one meetings with industry professionals, and industry related vendors. Industry leaders will present a comprehensive look at the current state of entertainment, evolving trends, and provide guests with tools and information on how to get into the entertainment business in…

The public is invited to enjoy the Oktoberfest festivities at Costley Mill Park, Oct. 12,  4 to 8 pm.  Enjoy food trucks, a car and bike show and live entertainment, hosted by Rockdale County Parks and Recreation. Enter the park at 2599 Salem Church Road, Conyers.

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary, Deputy City Manager Plez Joyner and city staff members celebrated the opening of Stonecrest’s newest early learning academy.  Education Elevation Children’s Academy opened its doors at 5341 Snapfinger Park Drive with a family-oriented ribbon cutting celebration on Sept. 21.  The academy will begin accepting students ages 6 weeks to 12 years old on Oct. 8. The owners, Janeen Solar and Hyuana Davis, acquired the center after it was vacated by Bridgepoint Christian Daycare. The academy is a part of the state’s lottery and CAPS funding programs and will feature a new multidisciplinary approach to providing child-centered,…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD)  police is conducting random searches to deter students from brining weapons, illegal substances and other contraband to school campuses. “The safety and security of students and staff continue to be our number one priority at DeKalb County School District. As a continuing proactive effort, random searches will be conducted on our high school campuses throughout the school year.  The searches are intended to serve as a deterrent to weapons, illegal substances, and other contraband as identified in the student code of conduct,” the district said in a news release. The announcement of the school district’s determent…

Stone Mountain resident Lance Hammonds has been appointed to DeKalb County’s Charter Review Commission. The DeKalb County Senate Delegation nominated Hammonds for the appointment, which will run April 1 through Dec. 31, 2020. Hammonds recently retried from a 30-year career in chemical sales management. He is now a realtor with Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers. Hammonds serves as 1st Vice President of the DeKalb NAACP and has lead the branch’s education advocacy initiatives, highlighted by its Community School Volunteer Program to increase volunteerism in the community and policy changes at the district level. The DeKalb Board of Education allocated funds in…

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s assistance in obtaining information on two individuals who were allegedly involved in the fatal shooting at White Oak Court on Sept. 16. A homeowner fatally shot three teens involved in an alleged armed robbery on his front lawn. Neither the homeowner nor two females were injured during the exchange of gunfire with the teens, the Sheriff’s Office has said. Sheriff’s spokesman, Deputy Lee Thomas, said in a news release: “The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office wishes to identify these persons so that they can be questioned.  We encourage anyone with information…

Shali Tilson, a 22-year-old mentally ill man who died of dehydration on March 12, 2018 while in custody of the Rockdale Jail, was placed in a cell with no personal access to water, a special Grand Jury has found. According to the Grand Jury’s four-month investigation into Tilson’s death, which was released today, every bed at the Rockdale County Jail provided detainees with the ability to obtain water, except the padded cell where Tilson, a “paranoid schizophrenic,” was locked up. Tilson was arrested on March 3, 2018 for disorderly conduct that he was experiencing due to mental illness. “Having cut…