Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs’ Browns Mill Recreation Center, in partnership with Zeta Sorority, Inc, Iota Eta Zeta Chapter and the DeKalb MLK Jr. Cluster schools will host a Health and Wellness Education Spring Fest Fair Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., l5101 Browns Mill Road, Lithonia. The Health and Wellness Education Spring Fest Fair will be a free event for the family to enjoy. Residents are encouraged to come out to experience live entertainment, food, demonstrations and receive educational information from healthcare professionals.

DeKalb County Cooperative Extension will host “Adding Color to your Garden” as part of the 2019 Gardening in Georgia series. The class will be held on March 11,11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the DeKalb County Cooperative Extension Auditorium, located at 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur. During this class, attendees will learn how to plan, purchase and plant a variety of annuals and perennials that will provide you with color year-round. The cost is $10 per person. For more information about ordering plants or to learn more about other programs and services, contact the DeKalb County Cooperative Extension Office at 404-298-4080…

The DeKalb History Center will host its Annual Meeting and Silent Auction on Friday, March 22,in the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur. The Annual Meeting is open to members of the History Center and will begin at 6 p.m. The silent auction fundraiser, open to the public, will include a free evening of food and music with bidding on items donated by local businesses. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The silent auction includes event tickets, golf, dinner certificates, art, jewelry, hotel stays, special tours, books, professional services, children’s activities, fitness opportunities and more.

Conyers’ St. Patrick’s Day celebration will step off at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15, at the “World’s Fastest Growing St. Patrick’s Day Parade” in Olde Town Conyers. The parade, a Conyers tradition since 1980, will be led by Grand Marshal Mayor Vince Evans and honorary grand marshals Bill Rogers, Marty Jones, Chris Bowen and Randy Mills, former city councilmen and former mayor, respectively. Bagpiper Robert Harwell will accompany the grand marshals, playing classic Irish tunes. Local businesses, organizations and school groups also will participate in this year’s parade. Anyone who wishes to participate in the two-block walking parade…

Pictured L-R: Dr. Dwayne Turner, First-Place Winner Issahaku Alhassan, Dr. Leslie Richmond, Jo Ann Harris and Congressman Hank Johnson. On March 1, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) joined health officials, teachers, and parents from across DeKalb County to honor elementary school students who competed in the 14thAnnual Dental Quiz Bowl Competition. Hosted at the DeKalb County Board of Health’s Winn Way office, the competition was a day filled with celebrating the importance of oral health. There were giveaways for students who competed and awards and medals for the winners. Johnson served as the keynote speaker of the program. “Early in…

Southwest DeKalb High School’s tennis team is demonstrating that it serves well not only on the court but in the community as well. Recently, members of the team spent time volunteering at Open Hand Atlanta by preparing, plating and packaging meals for senior citizens and those who have critical or chronic illness and disabilities.  Team members prepared a total of 800 meals for the home deliveries managed by Open Hand Atlanta, a nutrition-based agency that has been in existence since 1998. The Southwest DeKalb tennis teams’ involvement in the Open Hand Atlanta community service effort was part of the teams’…

Celebrating Black History Month has taken on a new meaning for the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Eric J. Levett made history of his own when he took office in 2013 to become Rockdale County’s first African-American Sheriff. Recently, as Sheriff Levett and a few of his staff members drove through a neighborhood in South Rockdale, he shared what it means to be the first African-American elected Sheriff in Rockdale County. “I’m sure somebody somewhere is saying, ‘Hey, this is a milestone for race relations in Rockdale County,’ but I just see myself as another resident who has taken…

Governor Brian  Kemp announced on March 5 that CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, will create more than 300 jobs for its new Customer Experience Center opening in Peachtree Corners early this summer. Over the coming months, CarMax will hire customer experience consultants, assistants, and managers to work at the location. “As a member of Georgia’s corporate family, it is exciting to see CarMax expand operations and create more jobs for hardworking Georgians,” said Governor Kemp. “This investment will ensure greater opportunities for metro-Atlanta’s talented and diverse workforce while providing an innovative service to car buyers across the state…

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people to assist with the 2020 Census count. A variety of temporary jobs are being offered  including census takers, recruiting assistants, office staff and supervisory staff. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security Number and be a U.S. citizen.  The jobs offer weekly pay, competitive pay rates, flexible hours and paid training. Veterans who are claiming preference must also submit documentation of eligibility. Applications must be made online:  https://bit.ly/2xhJnHG      

A convicted gunman has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for his role in a deadly armed robbery scheme, the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office said on Friday. Jurors returned guilty verdicts against 20-year-old Gregory Montgomery on charges of murder, felony murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, aggravated assault and weapons offenses in connection with the shooting death of 26-year-old Justuss Rogers. Rogers was gunned down on Oct. 23, 2017 in the 4300 block of Pinnacle Drive in Stone Mountain. According to the investigation, he was lured to the location by co-defendant Lakoaia Johnson, who told the…