Author: On Common Ground News

Reptile Wrangler Ken Panse June 25, 2 to 3 p.m. Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road, Stonecrest The Reptile Wrangler is bringing his wildest friends with him. If you have ever wanted to see or touch some wild critters, head to the Stonecrest Library. The program is open to the first 60 participants, ages 5 to 12.  Tickets for free admission will be available one hour prior to the start of the program. Supported by DeKalb Library Foundation. 770-482-3828. Hike at the Stonecrest Library June 29, 9 a.m. to noon Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road…

Zoning Public Hearing: Tuesday, June 25, 9 a.m. – Cancelled Voting Session: Tuesday, June 25, 10 a.m. – Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers Summer BOC Meeting Recess, July 1-19 , No BOC meetings scheduled County Holidays: Thursday, July 4-5, County offices closed Zoning Public Hearing: Tuesday, July 23, 9 a.m. – Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers Combined Work Session and Voting Session, Tuesday, July 23, 10 a.m. – Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers

The Stonecrest City Council’s June 24 meeting has been canceled. The mayor and Councilmembers are away attending the Georgia Municipal Association Conference.

DeKalb County officials will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for an amphitheater, walking trails, gardens and open meadows at Rainbow Park on Monday, July 1, at 10 a.m., 3171 Rainbow Park Drive, Decatur. The new amphitheater will seat up to 1,000 people and will be an open-air venue for DeKalb residents and visitors to enjoy a variety of live music performances, movies in the park and other county-sponsored events. David Manuel, executive director of the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center in DeKalb County, said is excited about the new amphitheater as an addition to the arts in DeKalb. “This amphitheater is…

Tadia D. Whitner                                                   Jessica Simmons Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced two appointments, selecting Tadia D. Whitner to serve on the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit Superior Court and Jessica M. Simmons to serve as Deputy Commissioner at the Georgia Department of Revenue. Kemp said Whitner brings “invaluable leadership and legal expertise” to the bench having served as a prosecutor, private attorney, and judge for municipal and juvenile…

DeKalb County has scheduled the first of four open houses that will be held to gather public input about the future of the Memorial Drive corridor. The first open house is scheduled Tuesday, June 25, 6 to 8 p.m., at the DeKalb County Watershed Management Office, 4572 Memorial Drive, Decatur. DeKalb Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, District 4, is hosting the workshops. In 2018, Bradshaw allocated $140,000 of District 4 reserves for a study. That was augmented by a $34,500 allocation from the DeKalb County Department of Planning and Sustainability Department, which, along with the POND consultant planning team, is developing strategies…

L-R: Pastor Marty Barrett, Ms. Bertley Bernard, Jerald Bryant and Pastor Mauricio Sonny Honor Thy Father, Inc., a DeKalb County nonprofit, hosted an awards dinner to recognize three outstanding community volunteers on June 15 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Tucker. Jerald Bryant Jr., a school football coach, Pastor Mauricio Sonny and Pastor Marty Barrett were recognized for the guidance and counsel they have provided to numerous individuals and single-parent households headed mainly by mothers. For the third consecutive year, during the Father’s Day Weekend, Honor Thy Father Inc. honored men who have tirelessly cared for the future…

More African-American students in Atlanta, DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties could have a chance to learn Mandarin at an early age, helping them gain a more competitive edge to participate in cultural exchange programs with China. The idea is one that was discussed recently at a forum co-hosted by the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) and Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents the Fourth District, at Clark Atlanta University. A delegation of elected official held the roundtable to develop ways to expose African-American students to China, the second-wealthiest country behind the U.S. About two-dozen invited guests attended the meeting, among them…

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), will arrive on June 24 to examine all aspects of the Conyers Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, Police Chief Gene Wilson announced. Verification by the team that the Conyers Police Department meets the Commission’s best practices and model policies is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, Chief Wilson said. As a part of the site based assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer…

Rockdale Community Ambassadors removed litter and illegal signs from the county’s gateways on June 15. In total, six volunteers picked up five bags of trash, four fallen road signs, five signs placed illegally in the right of way, and three adhesive signs that were located on the guardrails along the exits of I-20. Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. thanked the volunteers for hosting their first Cleanup Bash, saying the drive was successful. Nesbitt created the ambassador board as a way to promote Rockdale County in a positive light. The next trash bash will be held on Saturday, Aug.…