Author: On Common Ground News

By Mackenzie N. Morgan   When the last bell rings on the final day of school, that, for many students is the signal for long summer days filled with fun, friends and freedom to explore and unwind. But for children whose only guaranteed meal comes during school mealtimes, it means finding ways to stave off hunger. Fortunately, a slew of summer feeding programs have been cropping up around the country in an effort to ensure children from low-income families have access to nutritious food year round. The Summer Feeding Initiative is one such program and recently provided more than 500…

Darlene Caffey   It’s called Caffey Crush. It’s not a new fangled candy or drink, however. Darlene Caffey, a DeKalb County teacher and author, says Caffey Crush is a writing program that she created to help students dramatically improve academic performance. “As a teacher, I am continually seeking ways to improve my students’ academic performances.  My Caffey Crush writing program has done exactly that,” said Caffey. Caffey said that students learn writing skills through a game in which they advance from one level to the next. There are a total of 5 levels.  At the end, students write their final drafts. …

                           When 8-year-old Jaymeon Render paraded across the stage as Zero Tax Boy at Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary’s State of the City Address, many probably thought he was just a boy dressed as a superhero.  Few knew they were looking at a baseball champion. Render, a Stonecrest resident, is a right fielder and pitcher with the Bullpen Braves, an 8U, AAA, USSSA tournament baseball team in McDonough.  During the week of June 17 -21, the team played in a Southeastern 8 and under, USSSA, World Series.  The Bullpen…

State Rep. Karen Bennett         Democratic Party of Georgia Chairwoman Nikema Williams By OCG Staff Georgia’s black lawmakers are blasting the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision to remove itself from adjudicating partisan gerrymandering cases, saying that politicians now have a “green light” to continue taking advantage of manipulating the boundaries in the redistricting process. The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) issued a statement calling the  June 27 decision another step toward disempowering voters: “Today’s U.S. Supreme Court (5-4) decision not to adjudicate gerrymandering cases sends a clear and present warning that politicians will select their voters,…

DeKalb County has installed more than 3,500 water meters as part of its New Day Water Meter Exchange and Upgrade Initiative. The county has reached 10 percent of its goal to replace 30,000 water meters during the first year of the initiative. DeKalb is on track to replace 30,000 water meters during the first year of the New Day Water Meter Exchange and Upgrade Initiative. “The initiative has reached an important milestone in improving the accuracy of water billing service in DeKalb,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “The new meters are durable, efficient and include smart technology to accurately track…

A DeKalb County Grand Jury has indicted the driver accused in the hit-and-run crash that injured two girls who were playing in front yard of the 9-year-old’s home. Gabriel Jabri Fordham, 29, was charged with serious injury by vehicle, hit and run resulting in serious injury or death, reckless driving, failure to stop at a stop sign, and failure to maintain lane. The incident happened on March 29, 2019. According to the investigation, Fordham was allegedly driving recklessly at a high rate of speed as he traveled along Cherokee Valley Drive in Lithonia. The car went airborne as the driver…

Anthony Baggett                                                Shawn Darin Smith The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit arrested two armed robbery arrests. Sheriff’s investigators, with DeKalb County Police and U.S. Marshals, arrested Anthony Baggett, 17, and Shawn Darin Smith, 28, both of Decatur on June 26. A warrant charges Baggett with felony armed robbery on May 30.  According to the warrant, Baggett used a semi-automatic pistol to take $200 from Derrick Henry on Glenwood Road in Decatur. A Grand Jury Arrest Warrant…

Tracye Hutchins                                         Jarard J Tracye Hutchins, co-anchor of CBS Morning News, and radio personality Jarard J, of 107.5/97.5(WAMS),will co-host the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County’s Casino Royale Scholarship Gala on Aug. 10, 6 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 265 Peachtree St., Atlanta. “We’re very excited to have Tracye Hutchins return and we welcome Jarard J aboard as a newcomer to host this year’s scholarship gala,” said Dr. Naim G. Shaheed, DPM, who is chairing the event for the fourth year. …

Stonecrest Library will host a free movie on Friday, July 5, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The library will show Tyler Perry’s “A Madea Family Funeral” starring Cassi Davis and Patrice Lovely. Doors open 15 minutes before the movie starts. This event is funded by the Friends of Stonecrest Library.

Centennial Olympic Park gets ready for July 4  The Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA), in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, is bringing its annual Fourth of July Celebration back to Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, July 4. Music and a variety of food trucks will be available including ANGELFIRE7 BBQ, Atlanta Seafood Company, and Jerkbrothersatl. Gates open at 7 p.m. and the fireworks show will begin at 9:45 p.m. Visitors under 17 years of age are required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian 25 years of age or older at all times. Admission…