Author: On Common Ground News

Join the DeKalb History Center on a special edition tour featuring the Southeastern Institute of Paranormal Research on Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 7 p.m. on the first floor of the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur. Recount the history of the building and look into some unexplained occurrences that have happened over the years. The Historic DeKalb Courthouse has been in its current location in downtown Decatur since 1829. Up until 1967, this building served as the official county courthouse, holding countless court proceedings and serving as the center for legal business in DeKalb County. The…

The Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore St., is hosting Atlanta-based musical artist Joseph E. Reed in concert on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 7 to 8 p.m. The free event is funded by the Friends of the Decatur Library Reed plays guitar and violin and utilizes a looper pedal to create exciting polyphonic pieces live. He plays a variety of instrumental cover songs by popular musicians. For more information, visit josephereed.com.

The 2019 “Uniting DeKalb for a Cure” 5K run/walk will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Northlake Mall, Tucker, 4800 Briarcliff Road N.E., Atlanta. To register, visit www.komenatlanta.org/dekalb5kor contact Nichole Simms at jnsimms@dekalbcountyga.gov for more information.

Pictured L-R: Taron Williams, Trayvon Williams, Jermel Campbell One suspect wanted on murder charges in connection with the Sept. 29 shooting at The Mall At Stonecrest is in custody, DeKalb County police said on Wednesday (Oct. 9). Nineteen-year-old Taron Williams, whose address is listed as Covington in jail records, turned himself in to the DeKalb Police Department and was booked into the DeKalb County Jail, police said. Two other suspects — Trayvon Williams, 25, and Jermel Campbell, 26 — are still sought in connection with the shooting, said DeKalb Police spokesperson Michaela N. Vincent. She said she did not know…

Expanding its footprint as an international leader in the development of social activists, Morehouse College will host its first annual Human Rights Film Festival Thursday through Saturday at the Shirley A. Massey Executive Conference Center. The inaugural festival will honor Spike Lee’s lifetime achievement in film and offer a platform to other independent filmmakers whose work promotes cultural understanding and exposes the injustices of the world. Top festival entries will be screened for audiences along with some of Hollywood’s most anticipated movies. “Harriet,” Kasi Lemmons’ new, epic film on the life of Harriet Tubman will be shown at 7…

DCSD kicks off Superintendent Search Community Engagement Phase The DeKalb County Board of Education formally initiated its search for a new superintendent on Monday, Oct. 7 with presentations fro Debra Hill, Kevin Castner and Percy Mack of BWP and Associates (www.BWPassociates.com). BWP and Associates is a national search firm, specializing in assisting boards seeking superintendents. The firm has conducted more than 800 successful national searches. “Selecting a new superintendent is the most important task we have as a board, and we are starting the process by asking the community for input,” said Board Chair Michael A. Erwin.…

Winfrey’s contribution will be the largest endowment for a scholarship in the College’s history  Oprah Winfrey visited Morehouse College on Monday, Oct. 7, to celebrate the 30thanniversary of the Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program and made a surprise announcement. She donated $13 million to continue the scholarship fund, pushing her total investment to $25 million, which is the largest endowment in the College’s history. Winfrey made the surprise announcement Monday afternoon, on a day in which she met with 47 Oprah Winfrey Scholars that she welcomed as “sons.” She also attended a special luncheon with Morehouse College faculty and staff, the…

Katerina Taylor is resigning as president and CEO of the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce. Taylor made history in 2014 when she succeeded Leonardo McClarty, becoming the first-ever female appointed president in the 75-year history of the Chamber. Taylor has accepted a position with Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottom’s administration. Before her appointment with the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, she served as vice president of SunTrust Bank. Taylor said in a letter to Chamber members today that her last day with the Chamber is Oct. 16. Her letter reads as follows: “It is with gratitude that I write this…

This evening, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church’s Pastor Jamal Bryant led a prayer vigil and rally at the Mall at Stonecrest’s Sears parking lot in response to the recent shootings in the city of Stonecrest. Pastors, politicians and people in the community stood together in solidarity, denouncing violence and promising to take back their community.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Karalo Rafael Brownlee, 30, of Atlanta. According to warrants issued on Oct. 2, there was a shootout involving Brownlee and other individuals at a residence on Columbia Drive in Decatur on the same date.   Brownlee allegedly shot Carlesa J. Reneau, 47, in the back with a rifle, causing her death later at a hospital.  Warrants say  Brownlee also attempted to shoot Dedrick Jerrod Lawless, allegedly the son of the victim.  Brownlee had been the subject of an active pursuit by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit and the U.S. Marshals. Brownlee was…