Author: On Common Ground News

On Sunday, Sept. 22, repair work will begin for the Briarcliff Corridor Water Infrastructure Replacement Project. The project includes replacing 44,500 feet of water main in the Briarcliff Road/North Decatur Road area. Authorized contractors will install 12-inch or 8-inch ductile iron pipe within the road right of way with a single lane closure in place as work progresses. Work is expected to last approximately 24 months, unless unforeseen circumstances arise. Normal construction hours will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday – Friday. Construction in Emory Village area will be from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday – Thursday.…

Hundreds of family members and friends turned out tonight to remember Isaiah Reid and Jaime Hernandez, Jr., who were half brothers, and their friend, Brandon Gresham. Evangelist Renee Simpson of Bible Way Worldwide Outreach Ministry hosted the candlelight vigil, which was held on Hunting Creek Drive S.E. All three of the Salem High School students, ages 16 and 15,  were fatally shot by a homeowner after they exchanged gunfire on Monday at 4 a.m. on the lawn of a residence on White Oak Court in Rockdale County. Initially, the Rockdale Sheriff’s Office reported the incidence as a home…

Business community leaders had a chance to hear from the six candidates vying for the Stonecrest City Council District 5 seat vacated by Diane Adoma. The Stonecrest Business Alliance presented the Sept. 18 breakfast forum at the AEI StartUp Factory in the city of Stonecrest. Former Reuters journalist Michael Cooper served as moderator for the debate, which included candidates Nathan Alexander, Tammy L. Grimes, Barbara Hall, Dave Marcus, Virginia Pierce-Kelly and  Christopher Seabrook. The candidates fielded several questions focused on the business of the city including economic development, the Stonecrest Overlay District, comprehensive land use plan and city ordinances. The…

Nearly 60 volunteers joined the city’s staff and South DeKalb Family YMCA team in beautifying the front of Browns Mill Recreation Center recently.  Mayor Jason Lary and Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble were among those who gathered on Sept. 14 to plant more than 100 plants and improve the landscaping of the recreation center.       Stonecrest recently purchased the recreation center and began interior renovations that are near completion. Sean DePalma, the city’s parks and recreation director joined forces with Curtis Winston, the YMCA’s South DeKalb’s executive director on the Metro Atlanta YMCA’s Annual Days of Service, Sept. 13—14.   “It was a…

Registration is now open for the Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful (KCRB) Rivers Alive countywide cleanup on Saturday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Check-in, cleaning supply assignments and other activities will be headquartered at Johnson Park Pavilion, 1781 Ebenezer Rd SW, Conyers. Created by the Department of Natural Resource’s Environmental Protection Division and Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, Rivers Alive targets waterways as part of an ongoing statewide campaign to clean and preserve more than 70,000 miles of Georgia’s rivers and streams. Volunteers in Rockdale will support the effort locally by helping prevent the pollution of the County’s rivers, streams, creeks, lakes, and…

State Rep. Karen L. Bennett, chairwoman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Inc., announced that the 2019 Annual Legislative Conference will be held on Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta. This year’s theme is “Elevating Georgia: Sustaining Pathways for Tomorrow’s Future 2020 + Beyond.” The Leadership Luncheon, “Collaborative Insight: Envisioning Georgia – 20/20,” will be held at 12:30 p.m., in partnership with the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. Registration for the conference is $75.  To register visit https://gablackcaucus.ticketleap.com/alc19/

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Georgia broke records again in August – posting all-time highs in jobs and employment. Georgia added 20,800 jobs in August, pushing the total to 4.64 million jobs – a new record for the state. That number is up nearly 85,000 from the same time last year. Georgia had even more positive news in the August preliminary numbers. The state added to its labor force for the first time in six months and saw new unemployment claims fall. “August was the type of month I like to see for Georgia,” Butler said. “We…

DeKalb County Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling has unveiled this year’s teams who are participating in the third annual Dancing with the DeKalb Stars, a domestic violence fundraiser and resource expo. The dance competition features nine teams, comprised of a dance professional and a notable member of DeKalb’s legal, public safety, business or civic community. This year’s participants are: David Moody, founder of Moody Construction, Inc.Paired with Brentney J., MAD, LLC DeKalb Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, Paired with Tiffany Anderson, Dancers Unleashed Dr. Sandra Ford, executive director of DeKalb County Board of Health Paired with Grayling Walker, Dance…

The Friends of Salem Panola Library will host a community dialogue session on Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meeting will be held in the community meeting room of the Salem-Panola Library, 5317 Salem Road, Stonecrest. The meeting will give city of Stonecrest residents an opportunity to discuss several issues including what makes for thriving communities, sustainable employment, economic diversity, continued education, extracurricular activities and library programming. Attendees also will have a chance to speak with community leaders. “Meeting with people to listen and talk about quality of life issues is so important,” said Joyce Lindsey, president…

The Stonecrest Citizens Coalition, First Afrikan Church Community Action Team and South DeKalb Improvement Association Education Committee will host the Stonecrest Mayoral Race Debate on Monday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at the First Afrikan Church, 5197 Salem Road, Stonecrest. For more information, contact the coalition at 770-484-1652 or email sccga0118@gmail.com.