Author: On Common Ground News

By Viola Davis Suspect you’re overpaying property taxes? Avoid overpaying property taxes by appealing your property tax assessment before the deadline on July 16. To avoid overpaying your property taxes, you need to first make sure you do not miss the deadline to appeal your assessment which is fast approaching.  Homeowners and Property Owners recently received assessment noticesfrom the County tax assessors. With today’s rapidly changing market, you are likely overpaying on property taxes.  This can be corrected by appealing the property tax assessment.  The process is free (Board of Equalization) and can save you hundreds or even thousands of…

DeKalb County Government’s Purchasing & Contracting Department will present “How to Do Business with DeKalb County” Clinic on July 13, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Department of Watershed Management Conference Room A, 4572 Memorial Drive, Decatur. Vendors and Local Small Business Enterprises (LSBEs) are invited to learn about: Navigating isupplier DeKalb links Certification module Compliance module To RSVP, go to: howtodobusinesswithdekalbjul.eventbrite.com or call 404-371-7051.

Families who are new to the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) can now access the district’s online registration system. The online registration, launched July 9, is for new students only. Parents of returning students should contact their student’s school for information. They will have the school supply lists. The first day of school for DeKalb students is Aug. 6. Parents or guardians can visit www.dekalbschoolsga.org/registrationand navigate through a series of prompts to enter the vital information needed to ensure accurate school assignments and support services for their student. The new student online registration process takes approximately 20-30 minutes. Through online…

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating two men who robbed the Starship adult entertainment store at gunpoint. The robbery took place on June 24 around 11:30 p.m. at 1682 GA Highway 138.  Two masked men carrying black semi-automatic guns robbed the Starship. Both suspects were armed with black semi-automatic firearms. The first suspect was wearing an Ohio State Buckeyes hoodie with gray pants, red gloves, and black and red shoes. The second suspect was wearing a black hoodie with a red circle logo, black sweatpants and Timberland style boots. Both of their faces…

Due to a tremendous response, the DeKalb County State Court Traffic Division is extending the deadline to register for its citation amnesty program. This program waives contempt fees for failure to appear in court for individuals facing penalties due to delinquent traffic tickets. The registration period for this program has been extended to July 20, 2018. “The goal of our citation amnesty program is to provide individuals with open or delinquent citations an opportunity to efficiently resolve their matters and restore their driving record,” said Presiding Judge Shondeana Morris. The program is available to any individual with citations issued from January…

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has announced that Aliya Bhatia will serve as the City of Atlanta’s first-ever Chief Education Officer. In the Cabinet-level position , Bhatia will work in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools and community leaders to improve access to quality education and vocational training for students and communities. “Quality education can transform lives.  Aliya Bhatia’s experience, passion and commitment to creating high-quality, accessible educational opportunities will allow her to effectively partner with APS and other education and industry leaders from throughout the community as we work to improve access to education and training for all of…

State Court Judge Kiesha R. Storey will host the Summer Teen Victim Impact Program (TVIP) presentation on Thursday, July 12, 5:30-7 p.m., in Courtroom A of the DeKalb County State Court Traffic Division, 3630 Camp Circle, Decatur. The quarterly TVIP meetings, hosted by Judge Storey, are being  held to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding, distracted driving, failing to wear seat belts, and other risky driving behaviors among teens and young adults. Courts and prosecutors in many jurisdictions send attendees to TVIP for traffic citations in addition to Department of Driver Services-approved driver improvement courses. For more information,…

Join SRWA on July 14, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for a canoe and kayak paddle from Panola Shoals to Klondike Road, a distance of about 6.5 miles. Novice and beginners welcome, You must bring your own snacks and water. The cost is $45/person or $35/person, if you bring your own canoe or kayak. Space is very limited, so reserve your spot today! Payment can be made via PayPal at www.southriverga.org or mail a check to SRWA, PO Box 1341, Decatur, GA 30031. Additional trip information will be shared with those who sign up.  If you have any questions, call Jackie at…

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office (North Carolina) along with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is asking for the publics assistance to identify remains that were found in Orange County 1998. NCMEC has created a new facial reconstruction for John Mebane Doe with the hopes that someone will see the images and recognize the child. Chemical isotope and pollen testing have revealed that the boy was likely not from North Carolina but from the US Southeast with the highest potential from Alabama and Georgia. John Doe is also being featured on NCMEC’s HelpIDMe Facebook page. Help ID Me highlights the…

By Valerie J. Morgan Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary says the city is increasing its efforts to crack down on illegal house parties in the city. Lary said the crackdown is in response to the growing number of complaints from community residents who say the parties at vacation rental properties have become a nuisance.   “In an effort to crack down on all of the illegal house parties that have been taking place here in Stonecrest, I have ordered our Code Enforcement Manager, Al Ferrell, along with his entire staff, to identify and shut down these events before they begin,” Lary…