Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson hosted his 12thAnnual Christmas Tree Lighting Spectacular with special guest, Santa Claus, Nov. 26 at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center in South DeKalb. The evening was filled with surprises inside and outside of the center.  There was standing room only with families coming to share in the holiday festivities.  Attendees were treated to performances produced by Stepp Stuart and special guest soloist Stephen Akin. There program included lots of treats: cotton candy, hot chocolate, apple cider, popcorn and a station to decorate your own fresh baked cookies.   The tree…

Piedmont Rockdale Hospital’s Volunteer Auxiliary invites the community to attend the Love Light Tree celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 6 p.m. at Piedmont Rockdale Hospital Building A atrium. This year’s celebration will feature singer Theresa Hamm-Smith, the Rockdale Youth Orchestra, dancer Jaida Brown, and a special message delivered by hospital chaplain Fred Johns. The Love Light program was started by the hospital’s volunteer auxiliary in the 1980s as a way for community members to expresssympathy, esteem, or appreciation for friends or loved ones.  A gift to the Love Light program creates a lasting impact by enhancing health care services available…

According to DeKalb County Elections officials, these are the number of voters who have cast ballots during the advance voting period, which is now underway for the  Stonecrest District 5 City Council runoff. Tammy Grimes and Dave Marcus are vying for the seat. Early Turnout – Runoff 11.27.19

Budget Workshop Packet 11252019 (dragged)

Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. will host “Coffee with the Chairman” on Friday, Dec. 6, 8 to 10 a.m., at Awake Coffee Co., 909 Commercial St. N.E., Conyers. Chairman Nesbitt invites residents to meet with him and share concerns, ideas and receive updates on issues and relevant topics. The event is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.  

Tammy Grimes and Dave Marcus will face one another in the Stonecrest City Council District 5 special election runoff on Dec. 3, elections officials have confirmed. Officials certified the Nov. 5 early results on Nov.  15, making it official that Grimes and Marcus will challenge one another for the seat. The special election is being held to fill the unexpired term of Diane Adoma, who came in behind Charles Hill in the three-way race with incumbent Jason Lary, who won another term as the city’s mayor. Grimes’ bid will mark her second challenge for the District 5 council seat.…

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners received a recommendation on Nov. 19 to enter into a five-year contract with American Medical Response, an emergency ambulance service provider. After conducting a national search and eight-month review, the internal evaluation committee, comprised of representatives from the DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department, E-911, DeKalb Medical Examiner’s Office and the CEO’s office, found American Medical Response to be the highest-scoring proposer. “DeKalb is building an innovative countywide ambulance transport service system that prioritizes the lives and safety of our citizens,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. “The emergency ambulance service provider recommendation is the product…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan Staff Writer Stonecrest resident Gwendolyn Springfield has many things to be grateful for this holiday season. The 60-year-old postal worker retired on Oct. 31 as the first black mail clerk at the Lithonia Post Office after 35 years of service. Hired as a mail carrier in 1984, Springfield, then 24, delivered mail for one week before being reassigned to clerk carrier – a customer service job typically reserved for whites. “My boss held a meeting to notify and prepare white staff members that I’d be coming on board to work front desk. Even though it…

DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is partnering with the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority (FDHA) to host the 2019 Lock-in for Life, a program designed to promote healthy relationships among middle and high school teen males. The six-hour event will be held Friday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m. to midnight, at Berean Christian Church, 2201 Young Road, Stone Mountain. The program was designed after taking a critical look at the needs of male students within DeKalb schools and the unique challenges they face. The program seeks to fill the gap that a modern education may not be equipped to bridge. “The Lock-in for…

DeKalb County Government is participating in Census Pledge Week, Dec. 1-8 to encourage DeKalb residents to pledge to count everyone in their households. If every resident is counted on the 2020 Census, DeKalb County could receive $1.8 billion in federal funds per year for the next 10 years. “By participating in the 2020 Census, residents can help DeKalb County Government make a positive and lasting impact on our communities,” said DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson, who chairs DeKalb County’s Complete Count Committee. “An accurate count will help to secure funding for critical projects such as new libraries, community…