Author: On Common Ground News

The City of Stonecrest recently announced that it now has its own licensed drone pilot—Angela Venable, a staff member of the city’s Communications Department.  Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary honored Venable as the first licensed drone pilot on city staff at theSept. 23 City Council meeting, applauding her leadership in moving the city forward. “One of the things we believe here at Stonecrest is that we grow and promote our own. I think that’s the best thing you can do with regards to seeing people personally aspire, move up with their own goals and serve their city at the same time.…

Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. will host the last Shop Talk forum of 2019 on Saturday, Oct. 12, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Classic Cutz Barbershop, 1955 Highway 138 N.E., Suite 700, Conyers. The 4th event in this year’s series will feature the following speakers to answer questions and concerns: Sherri Washington, Post 1 Commissioner Tisa Smart-Washington, Rockdale County Tax Commissioner Betty Maddox, Grieving Relatives In Every Violent Event (G.R.I.E.V.E.) Terry Battle, Grieving Relatives In Every Violent Event (G.R.I.E.V.E.) Shop Talk is a grass-roots forum that provides an opportunity for community residents to meet…

The DeKalb County Sanitation Division will host the Third Annual Landfill Amnesty Day event on Saturday, Oct. 19, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the county-owned Seminole Road Landfill, 4203 Clevemont Road, Ellenwood. Residents will have an opportunity to dispose of bagged garbage, yard trimmings, tree parts, bulky items such as furniture and small and large appliances, special collection items such as tires, and construction and demolition materials such as carpet and fencing. No hazardous materials will be accepted. No commercial participation will be allowed. Residents are limited to 10 tires per vehicle. Participation is free and open only to…

Rockdale County’s Probate Court Judge Clarence Cuthpert Jr., District Attorney Alisha Johnson, and Sheriff Eric J. Levett invites the community to join them at their P.E.A.R.L (Protecting our Elderly and At-risk with Resourcesfor better Living) Town Hall meeting on Oct. 24, 6 to 8 p.m. at Excel Church, 1151 Flat Shoals Road S.E., Conyers. Come out and learn about Rockdale/ PEARL Program Resources. For more information, contact
Corporal Dawn Murrain at Dawn.murrain@rockdalecountyga.gov or 770-278-8159. You may also contact Karen Anderson at Karen.anderson@rockdalecountyga.gov or 770- 278-8109.

The DeKalb County Police Department is offering a $5,000 reward for help in identifying the suspect or suspects responsible for gunfire that wounded a 4-year-old girl that was hit by a stray bullet that entered her home on Oct. 3. The shooting took place at the Eastwyck Village apartments in Decatur at 3 a.m. A  stray bullet struck the child in her foot, police said. She was taken to a local hospital and treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening, authorities said. Public Safety Director Jack Lumpkin called the shooting “senseless and reckless.” “The entire DeKalb County community is…

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners recently inducted new members to the DeKalb County Youth Commission, a year-long leadership program designed to educate high school students about local government. The 2019-2020 youth commission class includes students from 12 of the county’s 22 high schools. To date, approximately 300 students have completed the program. Youth Commission participants receive community leadership training, learn about how local government operates, and interact with government officials. DeKalb County high school students complete a competitive selection process in order to be named to the commission. The program is managed by the DeKalb Human Services Department, Office…

On Tuesday, Oct, 1, DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson announced a $5,000 grant in support of Tabitha’s House, an organization focused on eradicating teen sex trafficking in the State of Georgia. Davis Johnson raised the funds with the support of Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority, Southern Company, Emory Hospital, The Collaborative Firm and DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry. “Sex trafficking is real and we must do all that we can to address it,” Commissioner Davis Johnson said. “This is a tragedy that is taking place in our back yard, we must not stand for it and it is up…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will hold Open House nights during October and November 2019 for the 2020-21 School Specialty and Choice programs. Students and families interested in applying to a program are strongly encouraged to attend that program’s Open House night. The application window for School Specialty and Choice programs is November 15, 2019 through December 20, 2019. The application will be online at www.rockdaleschools.org/specialtyandchoice. Students may apply for specialty programs outside of their assigned neighborhood school zone. Please note: Non-traditional programs such as Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, Rockdale Career Academy, Rockdale Open Campus and…

SAT scores for high schools around the state have just been released for last year’s graduating class, Class of 2019, and scores for Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) followed the state and national trend with a decrease from 2018. The mean composite score for RCPS is 979, down from 995.  The mean score for Georgia public schools is 1048 and the mean score for U.S. public schools is 1039, both down from 1054 and 1049 respectively. The 2019 class represented the largest number of SAT test takers in four years and was the largest graduating class to…

Rockdale County Chief Magistrate Judge Phinia Aten has been appointed by the Rockdale Board of Commissioners to lead the County’s Census Count Court-Side Subcommittee.  She has begun recruiting local lawyers, legal professionals and concerned citizens to assist the group’s efforts to bring awareness, education and increased census count rates. “We are looking for other trusted community voices in the legal field who encounter high volumes of residents in their work and community service. We plan to implement highly-effective strategies to boost our participation numbers,” said Judge Aten. “The U.S. Census is rooted in our constitution and there are thousands of…