Author: On Common Ground News

Effective Jan. 1, attorneys will be required to electronically file civil documents into all State and Superior Courts in Georgia. Although the new law, Senate Bill 407, allows much higher e-filing fees, the Rockdale County Clerk of Superior and State Courts has announced the fee in Rockdale will be $19 per case, per party, and no additional e-Filing fees after 10 documents. Normal statutory fees and credit card convenience fees apply. Under the new law, litigants can avoid the e-filing fee by filing remotely at https://georgia.tylerhost.net/ofsweb or by using a kiosk located within the courthouse. There are four kiosk computers…

The House Study Committee on Risks Associated with Kratom will hold its final meeting on Dec. 28, 11 a.m., Room 606 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building, 18 Capitol Square S.W., Atlanta. State Rep. Vernon Jones (D-Lithonia), a member of the study committee, said the Committee is looking closely at the issue to ensure consumers are protected and accurate information is shared about kratom. “Kratom provides benefits to a lot of individuals from all walks of life, ages and genders. The overwhelming evidence, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is that some kratom products are being…

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners is holding the first meeting of 2019 for the Rockdale Coalition of Homeowners and Civic Association on Thursday, Jan. 17, 6 p.m., J.P. Carr Community Room, 981 Taylor St., Conyers. County officials plan to present representatives from several departments in a setting to discuss updates, new initiatives and information with leaders of local homeowner associations, civic groups and interested citizens. The coalition meets quarterly. Each meeting will be held at the J.P. Carr Community Room at 6 p.m. Dates for the 2019 meetings follow: Jan. 17 April 18 July 18 Oct. 17 For more information…

  Since January 2017, DeKalb County’s blight remediation program has demolished or abated 292 vacant, abandoned or poorly maintained properties. The county’s efforts to eradicate blight has increased seven-fold from the previous year, 2016. In 2019, the county plans to conduct a first-ever comprehensive study of blighted properties in DeKalb. Approximately 139,000 parcels will be reviewed. “Fighting blight and beautifying DeKalb County improves quality of life and the health of our citizens,” said CEO Michael Thurmond. “The county has significantly increased our efforts to revitalize DeKalb by dedicating funding for blight programs and enhancing our partnership with the judicial system.”…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will provide students with free meals and snacks during the Winter Break, thanks to the district’s School Nutrition Services’ Holiday Giving schedule. Daily hot lunch, on-the-go breakfast and snack services will go uninterrupted during Winter Break on Dec. 26, 27, 28 and 31, as well as Jan. 2 and 3. The meals will be provided free of charge to all children in the DeKalb community at two locations: Stone Mountain Elementary and Woodward Elementary. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. on the scheduled dates. A non-perishable breakfast will be provided for students to…

The DeKalb NAACP held a swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 15 for its newly-elected officers. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson performed the oaths of office. The officers who were sworn in to serve for the 2019-2020 term are: Teresa Hardy, President Lance Hammonds, 1st VP Vaughn Irons, 2nd VP Edwina Clanton, 3rd VP Denise Brown, Secretary Sandy Johnson, Assistant Secretary Lisa Wright, Treasurer Members At Large: Gil Garland James Hall Shelby Hall Freda Hammonds Martha Jackson Vivian Moore Waymon Norwood, Jr. Angela Patrick Zepora Roberts D.E. Smith Louise Thomas Denise Thomas-Allen Cherry Willis Hardy said she…

The DeKalb NAACP will conduct its annual observance of Jubilee Day on Jan. 1, 10 a.m. to noon, at Rainbow Park Baptist Church, 2491 Columbia Drive, Decatur. Jubilee Day commemorates the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863 and is held each year by NAACP branches throughout the country. With the proclamation, slavery for blacks officially ended in the U.S. The NAACP DeKalb branch’s 2019 program will have an international theme, “Searching for Justice Worldwide!” “Prior to being emancipated from human bondage, many brave black men and women escaped to or immigrated to other…

Project Renewal, a shelter that assists victims of family violence, got an early holiday present.  Rockdale County State Court Judge Nancy Bills presented a $15,000 check to Vickie Stevenson, the shelter’s executive director. Bills, who serves as chair of the Rockdale County Task Force Against Family Violence, said the donation is the result of the 9th Annual Race Against Violence (RAV) fundraiser, held in October. Nearly 300 runners, along with 64 sponsors, supported the event. Stevenson thanked Judge Bills for the donation, saying the annual race helps Project Renewal with expenses that are not normally covered by grants. This year’s…

Effective Jan. 1, attorneys will be required to electronically file civil documents into all State and Superior Courts in Georgia. Although the new law, Senate Bill 407, allows fees up to $30  for e-filing, the Clerk of Superior and State Courts in Rockdale and DeKalb have announced their fees will be $19 per case, per party, and no additional fees after 10 documents. Normal statutory fees and credit card convenience fees apply. Under the new law, litigants can avoid the e-filing fee by filing remotely at https://georgia.tylerhost.net/ofsweb or by using a kiosk located within the courthouse. In Rockdale, there are…

The city of Stonecrest is gearing up to expand in 2019 and recently took the first steps toward finding a site to establish its Stonecrest City Center to house more  of its departments. The City Council passed a resolution on Dec. 17 to appoint a committee to enter into negotiations for a lease with an option to purchase the former Target building located at 8109 Mall Parkway in Stonecrest for the expansion.  The city plans to house the Department of Public Safety and Parks and Recreation in the 100,000-square-foot building, which is owned by Allen Family Investments, L.L.C.,  Lecester…