Author: On Common Ground News

On July 10, 2019 at approximately 0110 hours, the subject pictured above entered 1541 GA 20 NE, CVS, and attempted to purchase an item with a $100 dollar bill. When given change for the bill, he took both the $100 and the change and left the location. Tipsters will remain anonymous and are asked to contact Crime Stoppers with any information: Call: 404.577.TIPS (8477) www.CrimeStoppersAtlanta.org

Under the City of Atlanta’s Consolidated Plan, which covers grant funding received by the City of Atlanta from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), it is required that the citizens of Atlanta are informed and have an opportunity for comment of the 2019 Annual Action Plan and Funding Recommendations for the following grant programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), the HOME Housing Investment Partnership program, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). PROPOSAL: The 2019 Annual Action Plan (AAP) and Funding Recommendations Package The City of Atlanta’s 2019 Annual Action…

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Department will host a Movie in the Park series every Tuesday at July in various locations across the county with activities beginning at dusk and each movie starting at 8:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their families and friends, blankets, lawn chairs and food for each showing. All movies featured will be rated PG-13 and and viewable for all ages to enjoy. Select locations will extend pool hours. Movie Schedule July 9, Marvel’s “Spiderman,” Redan Recreation Center, 1839 Phillips Road, Lithonia July 11, Disney’s “Incredibles 2,” Bouldercrest Park, 4184…

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office will host a women’s self-defense class for ages 13 and up on July 18, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Jail Administration Building, 911 Chambers Drive N.W., Conyers. The class will be held in the Sheriff’s Office Training Room and Multi-Media Room on the second floor of the jail. During the women’s self-defense class, participants will learn how to prevent attacks, the confidence needed to protect themselves, how to use the environment as a defense and how to target the major areas of the body. The women’s self-defense class space is limited to 30 participants.…

DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann has appointed a new second-in-command. Melody M. Maddox was sworn in on July 11 as Chief Deputy Sheriff of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. She fills the position held by Chief Deputy Reginald B. Scandrett, who retired on June 30 after 30 years with the sheriff’s office. Maddox will oversee the management of the agency’s law enforcement operations, including the Field, Courts, Training and Reserves Divisions, and the DeKalb County Jail. A Decatur resident, Chief Deputy Maddox was Chief of Police for Georgia Piedmont Technical College in DeKalb County since 2016. She managed a…

                                                                                                        The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners on July 9 approved CEO Michael Thurmond’s proposed Fiscal Year 2019 midyear budget, which includes property tax relief for homeowners in gentrifying neighborhoods. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the amended midyear budget proposal. “DeKalb County’s property tax relief plan will help mitigate the negative impact of rising home values and property taxes in our rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods,” said CEO Thurmond. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gentrification is defined as the transformation of neighborhoods from low value to high value. Displacement occurs when longtime or original neighborhood residents…

  By Mackenzie N. Morgan | OCG News Staff Writer More than 200 local leaders and citizens of DeKalb participated in a 2020 Census round table at the Maloof Auditorium on July 8. Hosted by Commissioner Larry Johnson, constituents across the board came to learn about the Census and how to make next year’s count, count. Residents, leaders, clergy and elected officials representing DeKalb’s diverse population attended the brainstorming session offering resources and insight with a common goal: getting a 100 percent response rate for DeKalb. Johnson, who was appointed chair of DeKalb’s 2020 Complete Count Committee, urged the…

The City of Stonecrest has hired Clarence Boone, II as its new economic development director. Boone, who has 27 years of experience in brand development across a variety of industries, formerly worked as sales manager for Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau from 2012 through June of this year. Boone was responsible for developing strategic business opportunities and economic impact formulas for several market segments during his tenure with Discover DeKalb. “I’m definitely pleased to join the city of Stonecrest.  I see a lot of potential that is yet to be realized and I look forward to utilizing my…

Residents across DeKalb County are experiencing a smoother commute now that contractors have finished resurfacing 50 miles of the worst streets and roads in the county. The paving is funded by DeKalb’s one-cent special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST). Arenda Hansard lives in the Carlisle Commonwealth community near Stone Mountain. “There were some bad roads but now it’s easier to go in and out of the neighborhood,” said Hansard. “They did a good job and we are satisfied with what is being done with the additional penny.” To date, the DeKalb Board of Commissioners have approved two resurfacing projects…

Homeowners for Better Government (HOFBG) in Rockdale County say disturbances and shootings have prompted them to call for an all-out ban on short-term vacation rentals. HOFBG is inviting other homeowner groups in Rockdale to join them for a town hall meeting to discuss the issue on July 18,7 p.m., at the Philogia Masonic Lodge, 1005 Milstead Ave. NE, Conyers. “We want a ban on short-term vacation rentals,” said Don Meyer, founder of Homeowners for Better Government (HOFBG). “Short-term vacation rentals have destroyed our neighborhoods and have put our public safety and quality of life at risk and we want them…