Author: On Common Ground News

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…

Similar to many other cities during the time of Prohibition, there was a vast distribution network of alcohol flowing through the streets of Atlanta through the 1920s. Along with illegal liquor, issues of classism, racism and anti-immigrant sentiment overtook the city and lingered even after the state repealed its prohibition laws. Prohibition in Atlanta details the in-depth history of Atlanta during the time of Prohibition and the after-effects experienced into present day. Join authors Ron Smith and Mary O. Boyle as they discuss their book, “Prohibition in Atlanta: Temperance, Tiger Kings & White Lightning” at the Hops at the History…

Mirtha V. Ramos to lead DeKalb Police Department DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has appointed Mirtha V. Ramos as chief of the DeKalb County Police Department, effective Nov. 4. Ramos, who is leaving the Miami-Dade, Florida Police Department, was selected after a nationwide search was conducted to replace former Police Chief James Conroy, who retired in April and then accepted a job as police chief of Roswell. Ramos will be responsible for leading nearly 800 sworn police officers and 110 civilian employees, and managing the police department’s $95.1 million budget. “Chief Ramos has embraced community policing as an effective tool…

SPECIAL CALLED MEETING Agenda 10032019

The Georgia State Patrol is helping Atlanta police investigate a multivehicle crash that happened after a pedestrian was killed on I-20 near Lowery Boulevard this morning as the rush hour began. A man was killed while trying to cross the interstate near Lowery Boulevard around 6:20 a.m., Atlanta police spokesman Sgt. John Chafee told AJC.com. He was hit by a driver near the median wall. As other cars tried to avoid the accident, six cars were involved in a multivehicle collision, police said. Traffic was delayed on both sides of I-20 near Lowery Boulevard as police and emergency crews worked…

Pictured: DeKalb County District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, Teresa Hardy, president of the DeKalb Branch of the NAACP, State Rep. Doreen Carter, District 92, State Rep. Vernon Jones, District 91 DeKalb County District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson will hold an October Town Hall series, titled “Protecting Our Right to Vote.” Topics discussed in the two-meeting series will be the importance of voting, voter registration and how to get involved with the election process with a presentation from DeKalb NAACP President Teresa Hardy. “Our right to vote is very precious and it is imperative that we ensure that all citizens are aware…

DeKalb Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host an iFit in the Park Fitness Festival on Saturday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,atMason Mill Recreation Center, 1400 McConnell Drive, Decatur.  The festival is open to all ages and will feature sporting games and fitness demonstrations led by trained professionals, nutritional and healthcare vendors, music and more. The festival is designed to educate and provide a full-body workout that can build strength and reduce stress. Participants are encouraged to bring a towel and water.

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is accepting registration for its next Citizens’ Firearms Class, which is set to start Saturday Oct. 5, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The class will be held in the Sheriff’s Office Training Room on the second floor of the Jail Administration Building at 911 Chambers Drive NW, Conyers. Participants will learn basics in firearms safety and handling. Please bring your weapon and ammunition for inspection and to shoot on the firing range. To sign up, contact Lt. Jake Coggins at jake.coggins@rockdalecountyga.gov or Dr. Karen Anderson atkaren.anderson@rockdalecountyga.gov                  …

The DeKalb County Board of Health’s Richardson Health Center, located at 445 Winn Way in Decatur, will close at 2 pm. on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Upgrades to the building’s plumbing system will be made during the closure. All other health centers will operate under normal hours, from 8:15 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Richardson Health Center will reopen on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 8:15 a.m. For the latest updates regarding DeKalb County Board of Health operations, visit www.dekalbhealth.net.