Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb State Court Judge Ron Ramsey coordinated the third annual “Angel Wings” initiative this year to provide $50 gift cards for 30 homeless and transient students and their families. McDonald’s franchise owners John and Shiroleen Hurt again collaborated with Judge Ramsey to provide the gift cards. The Hurts, who own 17 McDonalds, DeKalb and other metro Atlanta counties, supported the same effort last year, assisting 25 homeless students with $50 gift cards. Judge Ramsey said he hopes that the effort will continue to grow each year and is very grateful to his friends, the Hurts, who share his heart for…

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. – Rho Kappa Lambda (RKL) Chapter marked the 18th anniversary of the chapter’s founding by distributing food to needy families this month. More than 20 of the fraternity brothers gathered at Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Lilburn to box fresh vegetables and perishables for families in need. The fraternity participated in a host of service activities each year since the chapter was founded on Dec. 8, 2000. The chapter partners with its companion, the RKL Education Foundation, to support the Future Men of Distinction mentoring program for ages 13-19;  the Alpha Youth Academy partnership…

The Reading Committee of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority’s Chi Tau Omega Chapter, which serves  Rockdale and Newton counties, donated books to 25 residents of Elks Aidmore, Inc.,  a residential program that assists families in crisis.   Each resident received two books from the Peyton Skky series, which is written by local author Stephanie Perry Moore. The presentation was made on Dec. 23.     Pictured from left to right: Melva Henderson, president elect of Chi Tau Omega Chapter; Pattie McGrew, Education coordinator – Elks Aidmore Inc;  Dr. Joy Jackson Guillford, President  Chi Tau Omega Chapter; and June Hawkins Jones, Chi Tau…

Officer Edgar Isidro Flores, age 24 of Decatur, answered his final call as a Police Officer with the Dekalb County Police Department on Thursday, December 13, 2018. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at 11:00am at All Saints Catholic Church, 2443 Mt. Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA 30038 and on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at 11:00am at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 6439 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch, GA 30542. Interment will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 in Yonah Memorial Gardens following the funeral service. The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 16, 2018…

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary kicked off his re-election campaign on Dec. 20 with supporters attending a reception at the AEI Startup Factory in the city of Stonecrest. Lary said even though the election isn’t until next year, he wanted to end 2018 on a high note and start 2019 strong. Lary, who announced in September that he had prostate cancer, said he never missed a City Council meeting while undergoing medical treatment, which he completed this month. “I thought that I was going to have to step back and take some time off, but I just powered my way through…

DeKalb County Police officers and other public safety personnel traveled in a more than a mile-long motorcade from the Public Safety headquarters in Tucker to All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody to honor fallen Officer Edgar I. Flores on Dec. 18. A packed crowd, which included Governor-Elect Brian Kemp, attended the DeKalb memorial service. Emotions ran high and tears flowed as tributes were made saluting Flores. Police Chief James Conroy presented Flores’ family the Medal of Honor, the highest award given to an officer. “We are a family. We’ve got honor guards here from as far away as Dallas, Boston.…

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.”  …

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…