Author: On Common Ground News

    DeKalb County Cooperative Extension will host a tree diagnostics class on Aug. 13, 6:45 to 8:30 p.m., at the DeKalb County Extension Office Auditorium, 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur. Attendees will learn signs to make sure trees are thriving. The class is $10 per person. To register, call the DeKalb County Cooperative Extension Office at 404-298-4080 or visit the main office.

Rockdale County Government and Rockdale County Public Schools are hosting a back-to-school bonfire for high school juniors and seniors on Aug. 2, 6 – 9 p.m., on the field at 1400 Parker Road. The event will feature athletic teams, cheer teams and bands from Heritage, Salem and Rockdale County high schools. Students will have the opportunity to show school pride and fellowship with their peers, county officials and community leaders. Rockdale County Fire-Rescue and the Rockdale Sheriff’s Office will be on site to share opportunities in public safety with the youths. Students of all ages are welcome, however, those who…

The Rockdale Community Ambassadors will host its second “Trash Bash” cleanup on Saturday, Aug. 3, 8: to 11 a.m., at the Rockdale County Department of Transportation Office, 2570 Old Covington Highway S.W., Conyers. The event will focus on cleaning up illegal signage and light trash pickup. Volunteers also will clean up the gateways to Rockdale along I-20. In the event of inclement weather, the cleanup will be held on Saturday, Aug.10. Food will be provided to volunteers by Papa John’s pizza. Anyone who is interested in participating in the cleanup may register for the event on Eventbrite.com by searching for “Trash…

  Collie Greenwood, formerly the chief service officer with the Toronto Transit Commission, has joined MARTA as chief of bus operations. In his role, Greenwood will be responsible for daily operations and maintenance of MARTA’s bus system, which includes a fleet of 532 buses and paratransit vans. With 32 years in the transit industry, Greenwood has experience in operations, administration and service delivery, giving him an appreciation for longstanding transit principles that he will rely on to improve service delivery and reliability. “When you turn on the faucet, you expect water; when you flip the switch, you expect lights. You…

State Sen. Emanuel Jones (D – Decatur) was recently appointed to the Senate Study Committee on the Financial Efficiency Star Rating by Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan. “The Financial Efficiency Star Rating system is an important measurement of how school districts allocate their funds on a per-student basis and how that relates to academic performance,” said Jones, who said he hopes to help find solutions where disparities exist. The Senate Study Committee on the Financial Efficiency Star Rating was created through the passage of Senate Resolution 452, sponsored by Jones during the 2019 Legislative Session.  The five-member committee will study…

State Sen. Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain) has been appointed by Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan to serve as a member of the Senate Study Committee on Evaluating and Simplifying Physician Oversight of Physician Assistants and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. “I am honored to be chosen to sit on this study committee and hear from all interested parties on the current regulations surrounding physician assistants and APRNs,” said Butler. “I’ve been a member on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee for a number of legislative sessions and this is a topic that continually is brought up by advocates.” The five-member study…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is pleased to announce that ten graduating seniors in the Class of 2019 have received National Merit Scholarships. Following three announcements from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), students from Chamblee Charter, Druid Hills, Dunwoody, and Lakeside high schools have been named among 7,600 winners nationwide. DCSD students are represented in all three categories—Corporate-Sponsored, National Merit $2,500, and College-Sponsored—with each offering a distinct blend of benefits.  Each student was required to write a personal essay, provide information about extracurricular activities, list awards, and describe any leadership positions held. The winners are considered to have…

Written by Ed Williams. Ed.D. Chair | Concerned Citizens For Effective Government Dear Editor: MARTA RTCAA (Rapid Transit Contract and Assistance Agreement) voted on and approved by the residents of DeKalb and Fulton counties in 1971.  This is the contract which the counties entered into to provide bus and rapid transit services to DeKalb, Fulton, and Clayton counties.  The contract original terms called for the contract to expire on August 31, 2021. The one percent retail sales tax was to be reduced to one-half of a percent after 10 years in 1982.  The retail sales tax was never reduced.   MARTA…

A Lithonia man suspected of sexual assaults against his girlfriend’s minor child has been arrested at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport by the Sex Offender Unit of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office working in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection/Office of Homeland Security. Investigators took 29-year-old Marc Andrew Brooks of Lithonia into custody without incident at the airport on July 15 when U.S. Customs authorities were alerted of outstanding arrest warrants out of DeKalb County. Brooks is accused of two counts of felony aggravated child molestation and one count of felony rape.  Brooks was transported to the DeKalb County Jail.

The DeKalb Human Services Department, Office of Youth Services, in partnership with the DeKalb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, will host a Back-to-School Giveaway on Friday, July 19, 5 – 6:30 p.m., at the Browns Mill Recreation Center, 5105 Browns Mill Road, Stonecrest. The event is designed to provide students with the tools to have a successful school year. A limited number of backpacks filled with school supplies will be given to participants on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.There will be food, games and music. Students must have a parent present to qualify for the giveaway. Registration is…